"Freedom's Just Another Word..."

I'm guessing that those of you who've listened to the Grateful Dead (actively or passively) can finish the above phrase. For those of you who haven't, it ends,"for nothing left to lose."

Right now hundreds of us are feeling we have very little left to lose. Let go from our jobs; told we aren't getting a raise/bonus this year; asked to take on work so far outside our job description that we think we should have a new title (but, by the way, we're not getting that either) it can be very tempting to lash out, or hide out, or simply be strung out.

Under the circumstances, who can blame us?

But here's the tricky bit: even when the world doesn't blame us, we tend to blame ourselves. I know very few people who blow their stack, duck the question, or procrastinate, who don't end up berating themselves for their choice shortly afterward.

With this in mind, let's consider the second half of the definition of freedom.

Part one says, "An absence of undue restrictions;" Part Two says, "AND (capital letters mine) an opportunity to exercise one's rights and powers."

Because here's the thing: while it may seem like we have no choice, we do have one. We are free to choose how we respond to our situation.

And while it can seem facile, or simple-minded, or just plain stupid, for me to write this when so many of us have negative bank balances, I would have us consider the following quote from Thich Nhat Hanh: "A man is rich not in what he possesses, but in what he can do without, with dignity."

(Dignity is a word you don't see a lot these days, but I'm thinking it's time for it to make a comeback.)

No, these aren't easy times. They require a degree of self-knowledge, self-discipline, and self-correction few of us have had to exercise before.

But if we can-- when we can-- we'll be both stronger and happier.

And we'll experience lasting freedom.

Mic Snatching Aside, Kanye's Apology Didn't Wow

As has been endlessly discussed, Kanye West snatched the microphone from Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech at the Music Awards. What has received less press is his apology on Jay Leno, and I'm here to say he did not wow: had you been watching with the sound off, there is no way you would have guessed he was contrite. Slouched in his seat, gaze averted, he looked anything but anxious to make his point.

What else am I basing my thoughts on? Well, while he said he was going to apologize to Ms. Swift, he hadn't done so as of her appearance on The View the next day. And while I understand he called the show while she was on, I am guessing it was at the insistence of his publicist, who was likely watching The View and as appalled as I was that he hadn't followed through on his very public claim to want to be in touch.

I also find Mr. West's choice of language interesting. "It was rude. Period." doesn't leave a lot of room for anyone to say anything more-- including Mr. West.

Here's the thing: when you apologize, you MUST exude authenticity. Kanye West shouldn't have spoken up until he could do so with grace. We all make mistakes-- how we clean them up is when our character is revealed.