Freedom, Slavery, or Nothing at All

What should people write in my obituary when I die?

I don’t want to live as someone else’s slave — not to a boss, not to passion, not to society’s expectations. I don’t want to do something just because others want it. The question remains — what do I truly want? Freedom, slavery, or nothing at all?

But what really is freedom? And what is slavery?
Will we ever be free?
No. Not entirely. No individual can be completely free — not until death. The moment life began, freedom ended. To live is to be bound — by needs, by desires, by the simple act of existing.

Still, within this inevitable bondage, there are degrees of freedom — mental, emotional, and moral. Maybe the point isn’t absolute freedom but understanding what kind of chains we choose to wear.

So, what impact do I want to make?
How much money would make me happy — and would it even make me happy at all?
Will I lose to everyone — even to those who started after me?

Happiness.
That’s what I want — not instant, but enduring. I want to be content now, and when I die, I want to die peacefully, knowing I lived on my own terms.
I don’t want to chase other people’s happiness. Their emotions shift with circumstances. Mine shouldn’t. My happiness should come from within, built on clarity and self-respect.

The truth is — we have never been fully free.
We live within structures — society, survival, relationships, expectations. Yet, there’s a kind of inner freedom in choosing how to live within those limits. The problem is not the chains — it’s not knowing which ones are worth keeping.

So what should one pick in life and do?
Something you’ve given your time and effort to — something you’ve decided to master.

Your niche.
That’s where purpose hides.
For me, it might be financial reporting, taxation, bookkeeping, or even the unseen work of an office helper. It doesn’t matter what the niche is, as long as it’s mine — something I can improve, refine, and build meaning into.

Read everything about your field. Keep what makes sense. Discard what doesn’t.
Document your learning. Publish your findings.
Maybe even make a contribution as significant as Luca Pacioli’s in accounting — or at least one that matters to a few people deeply.

And what about degrees? Do we really need them?
Maybe not for knowledge, but sometimes for respect. I just want a degree that stops people from looking down on me. I’m starting ACCA — a longer, costlier road, but with fewer unnecessary hurdles. Later, I might take on CA, step by step.

Let the loud ones shout about who they are.
I’ll stay silent and build.
It may take me 3–4 more years, but I’m fine with that.

Because even if complete freedom is an illusion, inner freedom — the freedom to choose your path and persist quietly — is still worth everything.