Free will.

What is free will, and whatever happened to it?

Free will can be described as the power of acting without the constraint of necessity or fate - the ability to act at one's own discretion. Living in an era where we have found unparalleled strength and might to stand up for our rights, why are we losing our hopes to make choices that are not reliant on any external being or force? One of the main ideas behind calling ourselves "evolved" is that we are our own masters. We have been successful in identifying our true spirits and personalities, yet we are restricted from being ourselves freely.

When talking about free will and having the basic human rights to make our own choices, one of the topics that comes into light distinctly, is women's rights. So many standards, expectations, and ideals have been imposed on us, that it not only affects how we view ourselves in the mirror, but also how we regard ourselves in our own minds. Why do I need to be thin, fat, or thick to be appealing to you? Why do I need to shave my body hair? Does shaving or waxing my body hair make me beautiful, or is there criteria for me to be acceptable in your mind or in this society? Why don't I have the discretion to wear what I want, where I want ? Why is each part of my body objectified? Why is each aspect of my nature dissected, and judged and labeled as "typically girly" or "super tomboy-ish" and more?

I realize that the issue is chiefly deep-rooted in the system, in our patriarchal system, in our capitalist system, where people make money off of our insecurities, but aren't our values of respect, self-love, and mindfulness more important than what system we are born into?

I refuse to be a part of any kind of relationship where I am not accepted or respected for who I am and for the choices that I make. I refuse to be a part of a system where my fellows want to compete with me. I refuse to be a part of a society where my fellows want me to change. If I am in your life, I'd like to be cherished and appreciated for my true self; irrespective of my bra size, my body type, my body hair, my outfit choice, or my "typical" nature that everyone is more than willing to judge at all times.

I do not believe in your standards. I never did, and while I tried to live up to them for the longest time, I can proudly say - not anymore. My worth and virtue do not depend on anybody who wants to put me in their cage of what perfect means. I believe that you are your own kind of perfect, and so am I. I refuse to engage with people who try to make me feel like I am not a beautiful human being, who can't help me on my journey to self-love and self-confidence. I will always be on a journey to overcome my body-image issues, just like so many other people I know.

We need to help each other rise instead of rooting for each other to fall. The standards that our society breeds are unrealistic, painful, and against our basic instincts, and while I choose to exercise my free will in all realms of my life, I can proudly say that I refuse to live up to your standards and expectations.