My friend who was a classical musician, at the age of 53 was a single divorced man with an all grown-up son and had the true life of freedom. His name is Cotton Crowe. He was living out of his van at Coco beach, Florida. He also was an active duty military musician playing for the army field band that played at official engagements at the White House. Cotton, while living out of his Van was able to use the facilities at Patrick Airbase at Coco Beach Florida for showering and other essential needs. The Airbase was close to where he parked his Van. So here, he was living out of his van and running daily on the beach and playing his French Horn at early morning hours in the freedom of nature without a care in the world. He later went back to a more conventional lifestyle but he looks upon those years in his van as possibly his happiest years. So freedom is a state of mind in this writer’s opinion, and Cotton typifies it.
Most runners I know have the ability to live simple lives because they are able to simplify their needs as a result of running. I myself pay little to no attention to politics and things I have little or no control over and my evening meal on the hedonistic side are my favorite times of my day. I appreciate my family much more with my running dedication as it is a calming element. So whether you’re young or old or rich or poor, freedom is purely a personal mental state and running brings to one a true sense of freedom, in my experience as well as others i know who have a running addiction.
So remember if you’re struggling financially or with other aspects in your life that are not perfect, running is a natural drug that let’s one think much more clearly about what’s really important in one’s life.. And that’s what freedom is all about in this author’s opinion.
