Such simple little words. They don’t look like much, do they? Seven letters. Just seven little letters sitting there, lined up and looking like no big deal. But think of the millions of lives that have been lost throughout the centuries as people have fought raging, bloody, violent battles, just to be able to say those three little words.
How often do you find yourself discussing politics with friends – even in public places where others may hear you? Now imagine being thrown in jail, injured or put to death for it.
How often do you find yourself discussing your religious beliefs – or lack of them – or your new age metaphysical way out there weird spiritual beliefs, without risk of dangerous repercussions?
Have you ever considered the content of many of the television shows or films you watch, or of radio programmes or newspapers? Naughty banter, sexual content, “language”, rebellious and anti-establishment opinions everywhere.
Have you ever considered how wonderful it is to be able to go online and purchase items on ebay or Amazon, or a million other websites, using your credit card or your Paypal account? In some countries – although they have computers, cars, businesses etc. – this is not allowed, such as in India, where almost no one has a credit card – and they do not allow Paypal. No money is allowed into or out of the country via banks either, except, perhaps, by a few of the very most wealthy Indians who can manage to pull some strings.
Have you ever thought about how nice it is to be able to dress for the weather, or for your own personal expression or pleasure, showing as much skin as you like, but in many countries, people (especially women) must remain covered except perhaps for their faces and hands, no matter how blistering the temperatures are?
Have you ever thought about women being able to live their own lives, traveling alone, shopping alone, living alone, driving cars – or even trucks and lorries? In many parts of the world, this kind of life is impossible.
Have you considered how wonderful it is to be able to go out with your friends or your partner, make a decision about what you’re going to do and then just do it? To have the money, the time, the ability to go out for a meal, go to a film, get together for a party? How much richer your life is when you can afford to do these things. Some people, even on our own doorsteps, cannot keep themselves fed, much less go out for a meal.
Have you ever thought about how wonderful it is to have a home? A place where you can put all your “stuff”? A place to come in at the end of the day, put your feet up, turn on some tunes, see what’s in the fridge and on the telly, and know that you are safe? There will be many people just a stone’s throw from you who live on the street, or in sparse, dirty, cold, crowded or otherwise very unhappy and undesirable circumstances.
Have you ever considered leaving your partner? Taking a class? Turfing your job and finding a whole new career? Moving to a completely new place, just because you can? Have you thought about how lucky you are to be able to even contemplate those choices? So many people in the world cannot. Even in our own culture, there will be people who feel trapped and stuck in their situations because of tradition or external influences or fear of the consequences for making such changes. If you are one of those people, there are options, resources where people can help you figure it out. If you are not one of those people, consider yourself to be truly lucky and blessed for having the ability to choose for yourself.
Have you thought about how wonderful it is to check out lots of kinds of music or art? To listen to, or look at whatever you want? To create, to paint, to write, to make music, to enjoy the artistic or creative efforts of anyone, without restriction?
Have you ever thought about how often you get to make your own decisions, decide what you will do for the day, the afternoon, your holiday, the weekend? Perhaps others must be taken into account in the planning – but still, there are many people in the world who do not have this freedom. And sometimes, it is because of their health.
Do you think about the things you are able to do because you are well? – or at least, well enough to have a relatively normal life, without worrying about treatments or side effects or pain, without being confined to bed or a hospital, never knowing when – or if – you will ever get out?
There are millions of other elements to take into consideration. I’m sure I could write for days about the ways in which you could think about those three little words. Those seven letters, so plain and simple, but they give you life. Not just breath and a pulse – they give you a life that you can love, that you can shape into whatever you want it to be. Those three little words allow you to move mountains. They allow great achievements and accomplishments individually, socially, universally. They have allowed people to stand on the moon, to create bionic body parts, to create miracles on earth.
You are free to think what you want, do what you want, go where you want. You are free to express yourself and be all you were meant to be, stretching yourself as much as you want, reaching for the stars if you so choose.
And no harm will come to you for it.
Now aren’t those three little words among the most powerful on the planet?
