Finding Freedom on Furlough

I know, I know..

The last thing you may feel is free during a government shut down. The term 'Freedom' can be thrown around so freely, but what does it mean to you? I mean, what if you woke up tomorrow and could do ANYTHING you wanted with your life? What would you do?
Who would you BE?

THAT TIME IS NOW!

Many Americans, for the last 15 days have been on Furlough - a temporary unpaid leave of absence, due to our current government shut down. This has left a large chunk of Americans on standby as they wait to return to "business as usual."

While it may not affect you directly, it surely affects you indirectly in some manner.
Here is a list of closings and shut down sectors:

• All 368 National Parks as well as National Museums are CLOSED.
• Don't have a passport? You won't be able to get one until this shin dig is over.
• DC's budget is approved by Congress, so no budget means no (or limited) trash collection. DC produces 500 tons of garbage each WEEK.
• No federally backed loans for you! Business, mortgage, or otherwise.
• No new clinical trials will be conducted by the National Institute of Health, and new patients will not be taken on during this time frame. Current trials will continue.
• NASA will furlough almost all of its employees. However, Mission Control employees in Houston will stay put as well as those at the International Space Station.
• e-Verify, the system that allows companies to check on the legal work status of an employee, will cease.
• No gun permits will be issued.
• WIC (Women, Infants, and Children’s Program), has stopped as no monies are available to pay the administrative costs. *side eye*
• The Patent and Trademark Office, because of the fees it collects, has enough independent funding to remain open for four weeks – but would close as well in any extended government shutdown.
• Administration for Children and Families and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will have to furlough the vast majority of their staff.
• FDA food inspections, which mainly cover seafood and dairy products, will also cease.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will continue "minimal support to protect the health and well-being of U.S. citizens," but it will have a "significantly reduced capacity" to respond to outbreaks and will be unable to support its annual flu program.  
• We still have to pay taxes (blah!) BUT IRS taxpayer assistance hotlines and walk-in centers will be closed. All audits are also suspended (good news for many). 

Employees who work for government functions “necessary to protect life” cannot shut their doors to the public, such as law enforcement, Homeland Security, Coast Guard, Secret Service, U.S. military, intelligence agencies, embassies, consulates that help Americans abroad, emergency medical care, border patrol, and emergency and disaster assistance.


I could go on but I know you get the point. The world is on partial pause.
Take a deep breath... Exhale..

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So, what to do with this new and abundant free time?

Try exercise, clean your space, take a walk, meet new people, try something new, sleep in, work on your dreams - LIVE! Do all the things that you always complained you didn't have time for.

I'd like to put you in a certain mindset for a moment - follow me...

Imagine there was no resolution to come of this government set back. Millions of people suddenly had to figure themselves out. Would you lose your sense of self? What was it that you liked to do again? What other skills or abilities do you have that could prove useful?

You feel a growing desire for community support. There are others out there going through this just like you. Maybe you can make new friends. Perhaps we can all supply a need. Who grows their own food in our local area? Who is good at building? Is anyone interested in yoga? Where are the musicians?

This is a time for everyone to dig up their long-buried passions. Now that there is no one to take instruction from. What do YOU do?

We are entering a new day and age. The energetic shift is undeniable. We are letting go of outdated systems, ways, habits, ideas, and awakening the creators within us.

We've spent our entire lives trying to fit various pre-made molds created by society, parents, friends, spouses, etc. while slowly suppressing our true selves. We are ALL unique as our fingerprints and snowflakes.

Be you, shamelessly. 

Discover you, shamelessly. 

Love you, shamelessly. 

LIVE FOR YOU, shamelessly. 

 

You deserve to create your own reality!

So, Fight the Furlough Funk and get to know your Self. 

Create possibilities. 

Think outside your box(es). 

Try something new. 

That's freedom.

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Brooke Johnson aka Brooke Jay is a Social Entrepreneur, Certified Nutrition Consultant, and Wellness Coach for RAW! on Wheels., a DMV based live vegan service. 

RAW! offers Coaching, Catering, Juice Cleanses, & more!  http://www.RAWexclamation.com

Contact her directly at BJohnson@rawexclamation.com