Now Jane, if you could see the world...

The world is wide, I will find my way in it.

If there is one thing that I prize from modern day feminism, that would have to be my independence. I am able to do things that I would have never been able to do if I lived back in the nineteenth century. Granted, I'm not a rocket scientist, but, had my dreams been in that direction, I would have been able to go to school and study to become one. Miraculous indeed!

Needless to say, when my friend responded to a quiz that, in her opinion, the literary character I most resembled was Jane Eyre, I was quite pleased with the response. And it wasn't because I had this brooding man with a crazy wife in my future outlook. Rather, it was my independent nature that convinced her that Jane was my kind of a girl. Actually, Lucy Snowe from Villette is also someone worth emulating, even if she doesn't get the happy ending that Jane had. At least she had a few years of happiness.

I may not be a teacher or a governess, but, I have always had to expand my horizons and go to new locations to find employment. It was something I knew I was going to have to do, and something that I wanted all along. Where I go, I start off knowing nobody, so it is always a grand adventure; scary at times, but also sometimes so much fun. You never know what to expect, and I love that I'm able to do such a thing.

I will not be the girl, who gets asked how it feels
to be trotting along at the genius's heels.
I will not be the girl who requires a man to get by.

But, at what price did I win this freedom to choose my life's path? I did give up being close to my family. I always thought that I was a curious mix of "Jo" and "Beth" from Little Women in that as much as I do like to be out on my own, I tend to cling to things that mean home. I've also probably just ruined myself for ever getting married. As much as I may want to, I am no so used to being out on my own that the thought of having someone else there that relies on me somewhat terrifying.

I guess I'm not as balanced as I thought I was! So, what do you prefer? To live your life independently? Or do you need to be around people? Adventures? Or stay at home?