The Cost of Freedom

"Freedom is never free"

When we read that, often, our first thought is the military, because the cost of freedom as a nation can demand the lives of our own countrymen.

But, no freedom, great or small, collective or individual, comes without a cost.

I have oft-criticized the LGBT community for their incessant and militant whining for validation, acceptance, and approval.

Bitches, if you're not strong enough to accept that not everyone can and/or will validate, accept, and approve of your choice to embrace what's in you, you shouldn't embrace it.

Personal freedom comes at a cost, and the payment is usually a loss of relationships and community with people who just can't validate, accept, or approve of your choices.

My attitude about allowing people to be transient in my world is not born out of irreverence for those people, but out of my personal need for freedom.

Beat, beats my heart: I must be free, no matter the cost. 

I am prepared to lose anyone and everyone in order to be free because I can not survive long under fetters and constraints not of my choosing.

Beat, beats my heart: I must be free, no matter the cost.

But, I'm not ignorant of the cost. It's not fun to pay. I don't get off on losing relationships in order to follow my own paths. I just accept that it is the cost and I'm willing to pay it to be free.

Beat, beats my heart: I must be free, no matter the cost.

What I accept is that I can't control what others will feel, how others will respond, or what others will do for themselves upon learning of my choices. I can try to explain myself, try to help them understand where I'm coming from, and tell them they're valuable to me even if we don't agree, but I can't make them be OK with my choice to be free and I won't be held up by what I can't control.

Beat, beats my heart: I must be free, no matter the cost.

If you aren't prepared to pay the cost, you aren't ready to embrace your freedom.

Count the cost, choose accordingly.

Beat, beats your heart: ?