Today has been a tough one for me, as I find myself reflecting on the drama that surrounds us when individuals try to impose their beliefs on others. Growing up in a small town in Minnesota, I was always different. We didn’t have much money, and I didn’t have the nicest clothes or belong to the “right” church. My last name wasn’t the right one, I wasn’t good at sports, and I had a learning disability. No matter how hard I tried to fit in, I was often met with bullying and name-calling.
I remember a nearby community of people who lived off-grid and homeschooled their kids. To me, that was the coolest thing, and I told a few people in my class, including teachers, that I wanted to live like them. Their response? “You don’t want to be like ‘those’ people.”
But now, I am living a similar lifestyle to what they referred to as “those” people. We live off-grid, and we homeschooled our kids, albeit through public school. It makes me question why people are so fearful of those who are different. Why is it not okay to be different?
The irony is that many of these same individuals claim to stand behind the Constitution. But does it make sense to support the Constitution and still ridicule or fear those who choose a different path? Our country was founded on freedom, not on what is deemed “normal.” Why can’t people be allowed to be themselves, to be different?
Living off-grid has allowed me to embrace the freedom I once admired in that community. It’s a reminder that the true essence of freedom lies in accepting and celebrating our differences, not in forcing others to conform. As we move forward, I hope more people will recognize that our strength as a nation comes from our diversity and the freedom to live authentically, whatever that may look like.
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