Thursday, March 22, 2012

Life doesn't have a manual

I'm always banging on about how life doesn't come with a rule book. There are no rules, despite what your parents, teachers, colleagues, employers and friends have told you.

I know it's easy to think there are rules. Like: You should always wear clean underwear because you never know if you're going to be in an accident, or: You should never call anyone after 10pm, or: Don't set a porcupine loose in a balloon store.

But these things that people tell us aren't rules. For me, a rule is hard and fast and though it can be broken the general idea is you shouldn't do it. If something is a rule, it shouldn't be crossed and those who cross it are not just rebellious but potentially dangerous. It's also seen as something that applies to everyone regardless of your age, gender, culture, upbringing, belief system or experience.

But the world is full of billions of people and consequently, billions of perspectives and ideas, and billions of different ways to go about living life.

Which is why I like to say that life doesn't have rules but it has many teachings. Part of living life is about figuring out which teachings work best for you. Arguable, that's all life is about. Figuring out who you are, what you believe and what lessons you are going to live by is entirely your choice.


5 comments:

  1. It is often amazing to me how many times in my life I have blindly accepted "rules" that have no real basis in anything but fear. Like the one I was taught from the day I was born that said that asking for help equals weakness and incompetence. It took me 30 years to figure out that asking for help is actually strength and honors those whom you ask because it shows that you trust them and want them in your life.

    Thanks for the reminder.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much for sharing! I think that is definitely one of those 'rules' that gets passed around too flipantly. A good example of exactly what I'm talking about.

    ReplyDelete

Express yourself here
criticize constructively
I am receptive