Life’s ultimate freedom Published Jan. 30, 2015 By Chaplain (Capt.) Stephen Hicks Tinker Chapel TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- It's now the year 2015, and I'm reminded that a natural part of living is getting older. Getting older causes many of us to reflect on what truly matters in the grand scheme of our lives. Many of us pause to give thanks for our families and friends. Some show their gratitude to others in giving to those in need or who have recently experienced the loss of a job or maybe even a loved one. One thing is certain, we Americans are blessed to enjoy the freedoms that we have, and it's a credit to everyone who has or is currently serving. Speaking of our freedoms brings me to something I'd like to share. We have our national freedoms ensured to us by the laws of the land, which can change with time and from place to place. But we also have an indelible freedom that can never be taken away from us ... EVER. It's the freedom we have to make or give meaning to our lives, regardless of the circumstances; by CHOOSING how we respond to the obstacles or adversities life presents us. This ultimate freedom is a purely human capacity. You exercise this freedom every day. Every day, you give meaning and purpose to your life by choosing how you respond to and engage others around you. You may not get along with your co-workers or supervisors. You may not like the tasks to be accomplished for the day. You may be experiencing turbulence in your relationships with your spouse or family at home. Maybe it's financial headaches. In every one of these cases, you are the one who gets to choose the final outcome, because you are empowered with the responsibility and freedom to choose your ultimate response to these circumstances. Even in the case of extreme persecution and national tragedies, life is giving you the final say, you get to write the last chapter, the choice is yours. So this year, I challenge you to reflect on what your repeated decisions, day-in and day-out, say about you. How are you defining yourself? If you were to string these numerous decisions, these moments in the day, together, what would it look like? When we feel that our lives lack meaning and purpose, we often become hopeless. We often look for the universal "meaning of life." I'd encourage you, rather, to look for life's unique meanings in these individual situations and moments that you encounter every day. Imagine the impact you can have just by taking the time to notice that one of your peers is a little on edge, feeling angry or anxious, and asking them about what's bothering them. Imagine the life-long positive impact you can have as a bystander by not backing down and taking the keys from a buddy who's had too much at a party. Imagine the impact you can have, whether you're an Airman, NCO or officer, by ensuring that each and every one of us has a safe place in which to work. Someone once said, "Who we are might be predetermined, but the path we follow is always of our own choosing." YOU can make a difference in somebody's life. You DO make a difference, positive or negative, every day of your life.