Raw Lasagna

I've been contemplating notions of freedom lately.  I think our culturally accepted ideal of freedom is the freedom to do or say whatever we want.  For example, our prized freedom of speech.  It implies a lack of censorship or restriction.  But I've been contemplating the idea of freedom within restriction.

Natural laws, such as gravity, are prime examples of restriction.  And yet, when we accept and harmonize with these laws, don't we find a truer freedom?

I know that the word addiction comes from the Roman word "addict," which is a word for "one who is chained and shackled."  It's ironic that smoking, or drinking, or drug use usually starts with a desire for greater freedom.

In a similar vein, I'm wondering about all the ways I may be shackling myself through bad habits:  Habits of thought.  Habits of movement.  Habits of living.  To be habituated, itself, is a form of shackling.  On the other hand, habits are beautiful time-saving shortcuts in our mind, so that we don't have to constantly revisit or relearn every activity.  Therefore, to consciously create habits that will liberate is my new goal.