Rule Follower

I am a rule follower. I was born this way. I suspect I will die this way. It's just who I am.

Don't park here after 8pm? Deal. No smoking inside? Wait...do people actually still smoke? No problem, I won't/don't. Don't sample the sweets? I wouldn't dream of it! I am chronically, to a fault, a rule follower and doing otherwise makes me physically uncomfortable...so I simply don't do it.

Now, does being this way help or advance me in society in any capacity? It sure doesn't. Do rule breakers  have more fun? Perhaps. Do I care? Nope.

My Mom was this way, until she wasn't. She followed the societal rules and norms to the letter. She was polite, courteous, well put together and entirely classy. Most of the time I think I'm nothing like her. She was superior in every way, but there are moments where I catch glimpses of her in me and most of the time, I love it. 

I have to laugh when I think of the little things she did to break the rules as she got older. At some point, she mostly stopped caring about what others thought. Don't get me wrong, she wouldn't dream of leaving the house without being well dressed and made up perfectly, but she had no problem "sampling" a sweet in a bulk food section of a store. I think she justified it because she was diabetic and shouldn't have had any sweets ever. So sneaking just one was a "good" alternative I guess. Seeing the devilish look on her face was reason enough to allow it. (No, I do not condone stealing. Ever. BUT I'm not talking about yesterday here, so relax.)

Recently I was at a concert where there was no alcohol, drugs, vaping, or smoking allowed in the parking area, or through gates into the venue. I watched as hundreds of people smuggled things into the show and I actually felt annoyed, as all I had was money to buy the insanely over priced beer for sale inside. So who was "right" here? The rule breakers or the ripped off rule followers? I honestly paused for thought on this one, after beer was $12 a pop! Come on people! If you want rules to be followed, don't make them so expensive!

I'm not sure that I have managed to impart these ways on my children. I guess, realistically, I just want better for them...whatever that even means. 

Follow the rules and also don't...as long as you aren't hurting anyone in the process. Have fun! Live a little! Don't make space for regrets. We are all here for such a short time.