Thoughtful Thursday

"I hate rules."

"Rules were made to be broken."

"Who listens to rules anyways?"

Well, I do.

I may be taking an unpopular stance (like that's never happened before), but I really believe in rules. Without these imposing boundaries, chaos is only steps away from setting up shop.

I think that rules have a valuable place in our lives. I may not always understand the rationale behind them, but I have to respect that somewhere along the line, a precedent was set that caused these rules to need to be created.

I like the fact that I had no input into most rules that exist. It reminds me that I am not always the Tzarina and Absolute Controller of my universe; it is humbling.

Needless to say, any document that talks about rules I find absolutely fascinating. Cherie Carter-Scott wrote a book called, "If Life is a Game, These are the Rules" - its ten-point framework and related sub-topics are today's TT:

"Rule #1: You will receive a Body. [Acceptance, Self-Esteem, Respect, Pleasure]

Rule #2: You will be presented with Lessons. [Openness, Choice, Fairness, Grace]

Rule #3: There are no mistakes, only Lessons. [Compassion, Forgiveness, Ethics, Humour]

Rule #4: A Lesson is Repeated Until Learned. [Awareness, Willingness, Causality, Patience]

Rule #5: Learning Does Not End. [Surrender, Commitment, Humility, Flexibility]

Rule #6: 'There' is no better than 'Here'. [Gratitude, Unattachment, Abundance, Peace]

Rule #7: Others are Only Mirrors of You. [Tolerance, Clarity, Healing, Support]

Rule #8: What You Make of Your Life is Up To You. [Responsibility, Release, Courage, Power, Adventure]

Rule #9: All Your Answers Lie Inside of You. [Listening, Trust, Inspiration]

Rule #10: You Will Forget All of This at Birth." [Faith, Wisdom, Limitlessness]

And I guess this is why I find these types of limitations so interesting. It all distills down to the exploration of the fundamental why.

Lest you begin to think that I'm an insufferable suck up, know this. I may follow all the rules, but only to a point. Once I have scoured their blueprints, once I learned them so well I can divine the intricacy of their infrastructure, once I know with complete certainty where they are pliable, I will expertly manipulate them.

I just don't feel the urge to immediately dismiss them nor snap them like a twig; bending will suffice quite nicely.

I think that might just be a lesson learned.

Wordless Wordsmith Wednesday

I know, I know, I know.

Alright, already.

There it sits, lonely but patient, on my nightstand. It is such a bad idea for me to try to read at the end of the night before I go to sleep; I have managed to make it through exactly one and one half chapters.

Yuh. My life is so thrilling, so chock-a-block full of excitement, I am spent by day's end. Ah, the carefree life of a Baroness. Sucks to be me.

I can assure you, I have nothing to do tomorrow (Thoughtful Thursday post is already queued up) but read. How could I possibly promise you this? Because according to my operating manual, God says so (well, I'm supposed to be reflecting, but how long should that take? Two hours? Three, max? I've been a reasonably nice person this year - not much atoning required)(unless you know otherwise...)

However, I will right now atone to Hachette Book Group for not being on the ball with this; rest easy that by next week, I will have an opinion. Forgive me.

I have a book that says you have to.