“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.”

During one of my Christmas shopping excursions, I came across a greeting card with a quote from American actress Katherine Hepburn (1907 – 2003) which goes like this:

“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.”

I couldn’t help but pull this card off the rack as it struck a chord which rings so true. Now, I am not proposing that we should break the law or break every rule in the book, but I do believe that sometimes, rules stifle one’s creative juices of life and therefore, we should cross over and break some rules in order to experience life in a way that we would otherwise miss out on.

I have a friend who fits this category to a tee. She is in her forties and is never satisfied to live like other woman in her forties. She wants to live life to the fullest; breaking the rules of where society would like to place her and living life on the edge. Most of her friends are “mature women” who would never do anything like what the lady is doing on the rollercoaster as it would not be “lady-like.” Well, not my friend! She is spontaneous and fun loving. It is not unusual for her to dress up for Halloween. It is quite common-place to wrestle with her children. It is a hoot watching her flirt and tease. She is not afraid to try something new. It is not unusual to see her attempting to try something without the fear of failing. She is certainly a wonderful and unique individual.

I have often been envious of people like her. As a matter of fact, I wish I had my friend’s disposition that enables her to be such a unique individual. Over the years, however, I have become someone who is not afraid to become more carefree… Maybe she has influenced me more than I realize. Either way, I have realized that sometimes, in order for us to really experience life to the fullest, we have to cut our own trail in order to arrive at where we would be most comfortable in life … being ourselves!

So, the next time you feel like doing something new and different, don’t worry about whether it is socially acceptable or politically correct to do so. Take a chance and do the unexpected and you might surprise yourself and feel life the way it ought to be felt … exhilarating!