A generally uninterrupted routine equals freedom

Freedom is not passed on through the bloodstream. Freedom is a noun.

It means "the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint."

Though many Americans wake up each morning feeling relatively free and knowing they do not have to fight for it, freedom is not guaranteed. The current situation in Ukraine is a sobering reminder of what happens when freedom is taken away by harsh, unrelenting, crazy enemies. Many Ukrainians likely woke up the morning before the first attack feeling relatively normal, because why not?

Deep down in their psyche, the Ukrainians knew that their current freedom was not guaranteed, we all share that internal knowledge, but they certainly were not focusing on their current state of free affairs. People do not normally ponder "freedom." Rather, most Ukrainians and others living there were likely engaging in normal human routines, like pouring their morning coffee or making breakfast, before the universe went crazy. Routines are comforting and freeing.

Freedom is almost akin to breathing.

This essay makes a case for the beauty of routines in a free society. The definition of freedom is almost like the words used to describe routine, especially routine can be used as both a noun and adjective. To me, a routine allows me the ability to think and act as I want without hindrance or restraint.

For example, I feel free when can freely establish my own routine without anyone telling me otherwise. I acknowledge that my routine will and can be interrupted in an imperfect world, but freedom allows me the ability handle the interruptions with losing my freedom entirely. Caveat to that is war of course, in which all routines are shattered. Hence why war tragically disrupts lives, which means routines become nonstarters.

No one can stop my traditional routine, pick out my morning breakfast, or change the way I like my morning coffee. Sure, I have a job that requires me to start my day at a certain time, but I am free to leave my job if I want to, because I have the freedom to choose a different job. My job also ends at a certain time each day and it provides me with income, which in turn, allows me to buy things and participate in society within my means. I have the freedom to use vacation hours or sick time when I need it, without having to work inhumane hours or while ill.

My routine also allows me to arrange a suitable social life for myself. I can determine when I want to make dinner plans with family, happy hour with friends, or attend a social event that I deem worthy of my time. I have the freedom to change my routine for social events or impromptu coffee dates. My life does not fall apart simply because I deviated from my routine - which is a good thing. Freedom allows me to engage in simple things, such as choosing which restaurant I want to frequent or finding a different coffee shop when I get sick of Starbucks. I can eat the food I want almost daily without major interference, besides price. I have options as opposed to sticking with the same stuff every day.

Humans need variation or else life turns into a prison.

My routine additionally allows me to determine what I want to purchase each day, within reason of course. I can shop at a variety of stores or choose from a large array of online stores from the comfort of my home. I am faced with an overwhelming sense of options, products, and brands, but it is a comforting and privileged problem.

Freedom only feels complicated when humans are faced with losing it. Freedom goes from feeling akin to breathing to a looming presence when a threatening force, such as Russia, swoops in. We know how important freedom is so the thought of losing that looming presence is truly unbearable.

That's probably why humans tend to have a natural urge to fight for it as opposed to fighting against it. Russia is not fighting against freedom, per se, but it is fighting for more power, which is code for "more freedom/power for the countries' leaders." In other words, it takes away the collective power of the people and puts it in the hands for a small group of powerful people.

So please please please allow freedom for all. Allow people the privilege of establishing a routine that allows them to breathe freedom into daily action.