Whenever I've talked to people who are envious of the freedom birds have, I have to remind them that birds are free because they have no one.

A bird flies wherever it wants, because no one waits for him. No one calls him and no one misses him. He is just as independent as he is unneeded. And, at the end of the day... At the end of the day, there's the evening.

I mean, what are people ultimately complaining about. That they have something, some financial safety or friends that hold them to a particular place. And they dislike it. Like the best thing in the world were just wandering around aimlessly. That the glorious life is the life of a hobo. My feet have walked many white roads and they are just that. Roads that lead to places.

"But I have a job, so I can't..." Leave. Simple as that. You think birds have money for food? If the winter comes too soon, if they can't find food? They die. They die free. No soup kitchen for birds. "But I have a child..." Leave. It'll hurt. Because cutting off a piece of your heart should hurt. So you have something that would hurt to leave. You have a lot.

To miss or to be missed is the greatest thing. I suppose it is. I guess we all just want what we don't have. People do imagine that the world is like Skyrim, full of adventures and you are the main character. But, at the end of the day, it feels to me like a huge sandbox without a quest. You jump from planet to planet gathering resources, you walk from village to village doing odd jobs and that's it. All the spots in the world, all the places are just places, not events. Spots, not adventures. It's not the place that gives the birth to an experience.

Whenever one wants to be as free as a bird, I remind him that he is. Get up and go. Just like that. But, before you do, do me a little favor I beg. Tonight walk out in the evening, sit on your porch and look at the crow sitting quietly in the tree. He has everywhere to go and he has nowhere to go. He flies for two reasons only. To find food and to find a friend. And he sleeps alone tonight, hoping for another day to trade in his freedom for something that matters. And if you closed the door behind you, don't return. Done. You are free now.

Then again, as you said... Coulda been a lot worse, that's for sure.

EDIT: Can't believe I have to make this edit. To everyone saying "but birds look for other birds and food all the time! And have partners for life!" are kind of missing the whole basic meaning of everything that I have written. Or I have missed the meaning of what I have written. No matter. Lets just stop. Or, of course, you can just add another species of bird to the list that's being created by comments.