I, like many others, refer to myself as being 'free spirited' and I thought it might be interesting to know how that is interpreted by other people.
So I'm asking, what do you think are the qualities or problems of dating a 'free spirit'? And if you are one, what are the problems you face within dating?

For me, the first thing that springs to mind for a relationship is that I like to be WANTED not NEEDED and to be accepted for who I am unconditionally. If I have a partner, then I am totally loyal and must be TRUSTED and if I meet somebody who finds this too difficult then they will TRY to 'clip my wings' and 'control me' either unconsciously or knowingly due to their own insecurities.

Free spiritedness to me is the opposite of possessiveness.
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Again it depends on your definition of free spirited, but I really can't stand any kind of restraint or bring told what to do. Honestly, I even feel that Tesco being closed on a Sunday is a restriction of my freedom to shop when I want.

It can cause problems, because I will do what I want, and I won't be tied down to anything.
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Vidi Vici Veni

I got in touch with my feminine side. She emailed me back saying if I ever contacted her again she'd call the police.

What was Alice doing having adventures in Wonderland when she should have been in the kitchen?

Haha!! good one !!
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Wouldnt have a problem, but I think they dont tend to use toilet-paper, do they?!?! Or is that hippies?!?!

i'm a free spirit and a f'kin nightmare with it !

i'll quite happily just jump in the car and clear off for a few days - work or not. I don't like being bored and i certainly don't like being told what to do. I explained this to my boss when he tried telling me that i HAD to do what he told me to. I only explained it because i told him he HAD to stick his head back up his arse and that it was the same thing, only i wouldn't pay him for doing so.
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Free spirits are fine by me, I would prefer Irish whiskey or Southern comfort, but if its free then I aint really gonna complain what it is

On a more serious note, free spirit can mean so many different things to people. As an example, people might consider themselves a free spirit by avoiding getting a job not paying tax on anything, not having proper documents and no insurance ( I am talking about driving ) where as many other people would say that isn't being free spirited, it is just being criminal.

Interesting that WSS said about Tesco being closed on a Sunday and not having the freedom to shop when you want. But Tesco is so everywhere now and closing down smaller businesses who can't compete with a huge corp like Tesco, then the freedom lost is freedom of where you shop as well as when. Two different interpretations of freedoms, even if WSS was joking.

Is a free spirit is defined by convention as somebody who doesn't stick to traditional gender roles, stereotyping etc or is a free spirit somebody who fly's off the handle or drops everything on a whim without thinking of any consequence or repercussions? Any other loose definitions?

How much convention are we all actually taking part in and how much of a free spirit are we really? That is what this topic has made me think about.

I'll have a pernod or a calipso plz!

It's true that being free-spirited does mean a lot of different things to each of us, therefore a good subject for discussion. I was thinking of it from a dating perspective at first but I can see that there will be many wider issues as we each consider what it means to us personally.
You can imprison my body but you can't imprison my mind, has just sprung into my head and we hear stories about people who've been captive, and how they fought to retain their spirit when all is against them.... we hear of techniuqes that are used to 'break somebody's spirit' in order to get them to conform. This is also what happens in many abusive relationships.... so.....is it all about power?
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lol you can break my body but i find it doubtfull anyone could break my spirit. once i receed into 'my world' you've got 2 hopes..

my 'lady friend' as i shall refer to her as, told me the other day that she doesn't know how to take me as a person, because she can't see things from my slightly erm.. warped, point of view. Once i explained to her that the only boundries in life that i roughly stick to are called Laws and that i'll do what i like, pretty much when i like, she started to understand.

I guess our trip to plymouth on thursday will show just how much she does or doesn't understand me
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i did say roughly. My morals are my laws - not everyone elses
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This is a really interesting question and one I have been forced to think about a lot recently.

I have been described as free-spirited on many an occasion and I think there are facets of my personality that definitely fit that term. I like to have a bit of my own space, do things on my own terms, push the boundaries and stand up for what I believe in. I value independence highly, perhaps to my own misfortune.

For example I spent my 20s drifting in and out of relationships as I was not ready to be 'tied down' or to lose my independence. I know a lot of the reasons that made me that way. But when I reached my 30s I decided it was time to grow up and take stock of my life. But once I was in that mind set it was really hard to get out of. So I accepted it as part of who I am. I had a string of three short-lived relationships with people that admitted a large part of what attracted them to me was my 'hippy' free-spirited nature as it was the opposite of what they were and they wished they could be as laid back and easy going. But the downside of that is that they turned out to be far too controlling or a little while down the line found out that I can be a nightmare at times as far as timings, remembering things and impulsivity were concerned, and couldn't cope with that part of me and tried to change me. I, on the other hand, can't cope with people who try to change who you are, I believe in compromise and acceptance and growing with another person not turning them into something they are not.

So I'm left wondering, can men really cope with a girl who knows her own mind but is also pretty chilled out and relaxed?

I was watching Lost the other day and Sawyer said "I think some people are just meant to be alone." I'm seriously wondering if this applies to me.

So I would be interested to hear from other like-minded individuals as well as other takes on this question. Thanks for raising it!

xxx

You described exactly why I started this thread in the first place. It will be interesting if more people were able to contribute here as I do wonder if I'm more suited to being by myself as well.
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