This is so good, Darlene. I love that you've ended up discovering that "real freedom."

As I was reading your questioning, I was thinking something along the lines of freedom, but more like you probably just wanted to take all the good bits of "old you" - the "old you" that had a lot of freedom and fun - and incorporate them with the best bits of the "newer you," and all you've learned, all those gifts you've discovered about yourself and your current life.

I suppose we all feel a sense of this - and hindsight doesn't help! It makes us wish we could go back for the good bits, but really, that old life wasn't nearly as good as whatever we can create now with more life lessons behind us.

Thank you for a wonderful read!!