Phenomenal piece, Charlie!
I've seen myself a lot in here. And if I go after that definition of financial freedom, I've already been financially free for a while. Not at the moment, but at the beginning of my 20's I've worked in a job I loved and reaped some additional cash through passive income. I would still live in my parent's basement, but I was happy.
Then when I moved out, it changed and I had to take care for myself while studying.
But I know that I want to get back to this as soon as possible and I'm already working on it through my writing career.