Free Spirits: Finding the True Definition

Free spirit, as defined in the dictionary, is "one who is not restrained, as by convention or obligation; a nonconformist."

I find it to be a correct definition indeed. Now, visiting urbandictionary.com, they offer the same definition along with another that I found to be in touch with today's young society of free spirits. This definition states that a free spirit is "a euphemism for someone who deviates from his/her society's norms by not holding employment, not bathing, acting promiscuously, etc."

So, I got into a great argument with D about who we can call a free spirit. The reason this topic even came about is because there's this girl, A, who my friends all claimed to be a free spirited individual. Man, did my friends talk this chick up! I was always looking forward to an encounter with her, I love meeting people who can lead an uncommon lifestyle. Problem was, I didn't get to meet her until recently, since being a free spirit and all; she was wherever the wind blew her.

Now finally, the wind blew her onto the Stead house doorstep. She wasn't quite what I imagined. In my mind's eye, I envisioned the stereotypical hippie chick. Wispy and bohemian with hemp jewelry, flowing clothing, and a pair of beat up Birkenstocks. A natural beauty, so to speak. I know, I know, very 60s. But come on now, I didn't want to judge the girl on her physical appearance, which let me describe to you was not what I was expecting at all. The scene chick. Platinum blond hair, black underneath, with today's fashionable skinny jeans, and a full face of makeup. Hell, appearances can be so deceiving so I set my initial judgments aside. I wanted to hear the girl talk. What did A's mind hold that made her so free spirited?

I have to say, I was pretty disappointed. She was dubbed a free spirit because she didn't work. She basically lived off of whatever was offered to her. I didn't see anything free spirited about her lifestyle. I had to call her out on being a lazy freeloader. This is where D comes in to tell me, "No, she's free spirited because she refuses to work for the man."

Yes, that's a free spirited quality, sure, but what about everything materialistic about her? How much was spent on the hair dye, the makeup, the expensive clothing? I had to bring up my good friend, K, who I have always seen as a free spirit. She has this way of thinking and taking care of others and just being genuinely mellow and... free of mind. This is where D comes in to tell me, "Well, K works for the man. That's not being free spirited."

Oh, to hell with that. In today's society, it's required that we work to make ends meet. Simple as that. But D was insistent in his view that one could not be a free spirit if they worked under the man. So be it. However, freeloading is not what I consider a free spirit to be at all. Maybe if A made things and sold them or just plain old traded things, that would be much more different than just crashing for a night, asking for money, and going out and partying all night. I just don't see it. I don't respect it.

Being a free spirit is a state of mind. A freedom in seeing things not as others see them. It's about not being dependent on jobs, money, and materialistic things for that matter. Need I say more?I lost my argument to D, nevertheless, the guy is a good arguer I'll give that to him. I'll have to let him read this in order to get my point across. Peace and respect to all the real free spirits out there.