What I Really Know About Freedom: Becoming Debt Free - AARP Bulletin

What I Really Know About Freedom Debt Release

For this writer bankruptcy proved to be a liberating experience

The dictionary defines freedom as a state in which somebody is able to act and live as he or she chooses without being subject to any undue restraints or restrictions. At age 65, that’s exactly how I define it. As an African American woman, a native of Louisiana, life has not always given me such liberty and independence. You could say I’ve had an interesting life. In my early years as a sharecropper’s daughter, I was overburdened with hard work. As a teenager, I felt imprisoned by the strict guidance of my parents and grandparents. We were religious folks, not allowed to dance, party or spend time in idleness. I felt enslaved. I couldn’t wait to get away from home and see the bright lights of the city. Sure enough, the time came when I gained my freedom from the farm and the demands of family and church. I thought getting married would allow me to do the things I wanted. Boy was I wrong! I found myself unable to escape a domineering husband. For years I felt like a slave again. I thought I would never be free. Eventually, I was able to get a divorce. But freedom was short lived. I entered a second marriage. I sensed liberation, so I indulged in many frivolous things. I got my household into debt. I bought everything I thought I wanted, not knowing that a rainy day was coming. When my husband got ill, we had to close our business. I ended up in bankruptcy court shortly before he died. I was living as a sharecropper again. This time, the “boss man” was the harassing bill collector. My freedom finally came when all of my debts were erased. I vowed to avoid debt and have kept my promise. I learned to be satisfied with the provisions God made. My emancipation comes when I wake up in the morning. Not being anxious or stressed by debts and obligations is sheer freedom. A clear conscience and right relationship with God bring relief from worries. The AARP Bulletin’s What I Really Know column comes from our readers. Each month we solicit personal essays on a selected topic and post some of our favorites in print and online.Morena Caleb is a reader from Fenton, La. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

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