I picture freedom as women waving Betsy Ross's flag higher. I picture freedom when slavery ended, but I do not immediately see freedom defined by Anne Martine Whitehead "as the moment of recognition that collapse is not only inevitable, but critical as well as continuous."

While I read Anne Martine Whitehead's "Expressing Life through Loss," I was surprised by the definition of freedom. Whitehead takes time to introduce freedom as being unique and individual. I was surprised by this definition because I automatically think of freedom as history, like it's in the past, but it's not. Whitehead is in the present.

Her definition reminded me of famous dancer's, Doris Humphrey, style of dance called "fall and recovery." However, it has a twist. There should be no recovery according to Whitehead. Performing is collapsing. Collapsing into our form, conforming into the person you really are. Conforming into the girl snuggled in a ball in her pajamas at 9 pm at night--for me at least.

Women have been statistically proven to be more self-conscious. The plastic surgery business has made billions and billions of dollars because almost every media known star has had some type of "repair" made to their face because they lost the familiarity with their own body due to the lack of freedom they've allowed themselves to have.

Think about it, we have a whole day dedicated to dressing up as someone you want to be like. It's an awesome holiday if you pick who your real role model is. However, with many peers around, you get scooped up into going as something or someone that makes you look prettier, skinnier, and healthier. So, it is a lost opportunity of freedom.

History is made up of many cultures. These cultures have stories of resistance and survival and art. So, how do you differentiate between the three? You keep collapsing. You keeping using your freedom of individuality to find your frame and your culture. Art spreads emotions really fast, art embodies your feeling into someone else’s and lets them know how you are doing and what you want to raise awareness of. You should fall for these freaks. You should endure their life like you endure yours — with pure determination of being called a freak.