“Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly”- Dalai Lama

I can remember as early as 4 years old, my cousins and I were not able to use the oven of course. We shouldn’t have been so close to the kerosene heater either. However it was out in the open to heat our house, so what else would we use to satisfy our cravings for cookies? The kerosene heater, yes, we set foil on top of the heater and baked cookies! At 4 I probably didn’t recognize the taste of kerosene over cookies. Fortunately, the house didn’t catch fire, we didn’t catch fire, and the cookies were awesome from what I remember.

*Don’t try that at home*

Even just a few years later, instead of using the stove we learned to just run the water really hot so that we could still enjoy our oatmeal, when there were no adults around to make it for us.
I was in the 5th grade when my cousin and I decided that it was a good idea for me to come to her school and get her out with an early dismissal. She was in the 4th grade. I don’t even remember how I got past the office and to her classroom alone, but I did. There I was standing in front of her teacher, who I remember looking a lot like Bill Nye the Science Guy. I was probably about 4’11” and had different color barrettes and ballies in my hair…

“I’m here to pick up Chanell ******.”

Surprisingly he let her go (early 90’s) but I frowned when I saw the jeering smirk on his face because I meant business!

Well this phenomenon has lasted well into my adult years. Even as I have flipped through the pages of my partner’s journal….Face palm… I certainly found what I was looking for. I’ve learned to find exceptions to the rule in order to get what I want and to live how I’d prefer to live. I know why rules exist, and I don’t just go around looking for rules to break but there will not always be a more appropriate time and place for integrity, empathy, honesty, security, authenticity, morality…the list goes on and those necessities in life aren’t always found on our full plate of rules.