Posted on by LA · 72 Comments

Follow Me Follow You

I was at someone’s house a few years ago. We sat on the island stools in her well appointed kitchen looking into her beautiful open floor plan family room in her lovely home.

Her: I really need to redo this kitchen

Me: Why. This is beautiful and in perfect shape

Her: Because all my friends have redone their kitchens and they’re all white and pretty and I want that too

Me: stares blankly into the abyss of suburban home ownership…

What do you think about jumping on the bandwagon to follow a trend?

Now before you answer, I want you to really think about that. Do you own anything that you bought based on other people having it?

Do you own anything that was bought because it would make others envious, or because you thought it would give you status?

Do you have opinions on things strictly because people “in the know” have them? A few weeks ago someone said that they like receiving the voter packets because they want to know what “their side” wants them to do.

See why I’m not so much for following the herd?

Do you ever follow the herd?

Now let’s contrast that: What’s the difference between following the herd and following the rules?

In a world where rules/laws are meant to protect others, what do we say about those who don’t follow them?

I know I get annoyed when people don’t pay for mass transit. My Husband is a jaywalker of the first order and it drives me CRAZY. (Is it a law yet that we can’t say the word “crazy”?)

People who cheat on their taxes.

Speeders.

Shoplifters.

Illegal drugs, or those who get drugs illegally.

What do we think about those who break rules?

Is it OK because some rules are stupid?

Without law, can there be order?

Are there times when we break the rules because we want to follow the herd?

Discuss:

Posted on by LA · 98 Comments

One Rule

I came across this quote:

There’s only one rule. Follow the line of your own desires.”

Malcolm Bradberry

While I think that this has merit, I have problems with some of the intent. Should you always follow your path? What if a parent really wants to leave their family and join the circus. Do they really just wake up in the middle of the night, fill their bandana with worldly possessions, toss it on a stick, flip it on their back and just jump on the next freight train to the town with the tightrope and three rings?

Or do responsibly think about all the people that your life intersects with?

What is the line between personal growth and personal responsibility?

In my mind I want to tell people to “Go For It”…but there’s also this little part of me that thinks- “well…maybe you have to think how that’s going to effect __________. I guess much of my thinking would be persons who have others depend on them: If a single. childless 20 year old wants to move someplace and make woven belts, I’d be pushing them out the door with an order for a belt. If my best friend mother of three who brings in income and also helps out her parents decided to go weave belts, I’d probably sit them down and talk to them… I know it might not be fair, but when is life fair?

So, what do you think about this quote?

Do we follow our desires without regard? Or do we weigh all the exponents?

Discuss