Dec 24, 2024 | Personal Freedom

Christmas Eve.

My wife and I went for a long slow walk here in Portimao, Portugal. The vast majority of restaurants was closed so the walk brought us to a local Japanese cuisine Asia Tokyo on Praia da Rocha.

I love my wife. She is my best friend and partner, the person I respect the most in my life. One of the key reasons for that is that she is unbelievably smart. We often have amazing smart conversations about the meaning of life, our values, and other important things that bother us.

This time was no different and after a dozen of different topics we somehow naturally transitioned to the topic of personal freedom – one of the key pillars that form me as an individual.

It was exciting and revealing to discuss what freedoms we feel we already have, what qualifies that we have them, and what freedoms we don't have and why.

Freedoms takes from me and regained

Freedom of Choice, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Movement and Political Freedom were taken from me when the full-scale war began in Ukraine. I've reclaimed these freedoms 2.5 years after when finally navigated my way out of Ukraine. Legally.

For the record, Russia is a terrorist state, Putin is "хуйло", "полуниця", "паляниця". Russia has invaded Ukraine and destroyed and killed hundreds of thousands of people. No doubt. But they have not divided Ukrainian people, they have not made us live in fear and lie. Ukrainian leaders did.

Ukrainian government made a political decision to divide the people for nationalists and traitors that support Russian narratives. No freedom to express your views without being scared that "they" will come after you.

Closed borders, everyday rocket attacks, electricity outages, uncontrolled and unfair mobilization close to kidnapping. No choice to leave. No choice to say.

Freedom of Religion

Unlike the absolute majority of Ukrainians who have inherited Christianity from their parents, my parents did not baptise me in the childhood. They gifted me this freedom to make a choice when I decide I'm ready. I've became a Christian this year and it was unforgettable sacrament.

Freedom of Thought

The ability to think freely, doubt, critique, and form your own opinions. I believe that this is the most important freedom that my parents gifted when giving birth to me. This is the only true freedom that can not be taken away from me. The sacred one.

Financial Freedom

The type of freedom I'm trying to achieve my entire life.

At 21, I was inspired by an individual I've worked for that getting $10k/mo, a business and a car would make me feel financially free. I did not feel it when achieved this.

At 26, I thought it's all about the amount of cash that you have in the bank. I did not feel it when had $120k+ in the bank.

At 29, I thought it's all about being worth $1M+. I did not feel that this would give me what I want after failing my first startup and having deep open conversations with dozens of people worth $10M+.

I'm 31 now.

Now I think that it's not about a specific amount or specific achievement. Now I think it's all about the state of mind. Right now, I believe that I would be free financially when I would not have to think about money.

I think that if I won't have to think about risks of losing job or my business, that I would still be able to take care of my family regardless of the circumstances, that would make the trick.

The conversation with my wife sparked an idea that $5K/mo of passive income would make it work. $5k/mo is the amount needed to cover our cost of living.

Freedom of Creativity

The ability to create, experiment, and bring new ideas to life without fear of limitations.

The 2nd most important freedom for me.

The freedom I do have today.

The freedom I'm so afraid of losing tomorrow.

I've realised this after today's discussion with my wife – the key reason why I so desperately need Financial Freedom is so that I can have the Freedom of Creativity indefinitely until I die.