“You are remembered for the rules you break.”
–Douglas MacArthur
Often in order to live our lives in the way that is truest to our selves we have to break the rules. It may be by how and who we love, how we learn or sometimes just by the act of being in countries that would rather we didn’t. Oh there are more prosaic rule breaking that happens every day. If laws are passed telling us we can’t collect fresh rainwater or that we can’t grow certain kinds of food on our property, then chances are that if that is what we wish to do that is what we’ll do. There are so many laws and ordinances in the countries in which most of us live that it is nigh impossible to go a day without violating one rule or another. Thus is life in a world where “Everything not forbidden is compulsory and everything that is not compulsory is forbidden” seems to become closer with each passing month. Yet the most important rule to me is that of living according to one’s truest nature. As long as we do this than any other rule becomes secondary. As Bob Dylan said, “To live outside the law, you have to be honest.”
Blessings, G
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Somewhat Platonic Fractal Campfires by G A Rosenberg
“I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.”
― Robert A. Heinlein
I believe I’ll break one of those rules now. Does a rule exist that when you have a quote, some writing and a picture on a blog entry that they should relate to each other? Is it even customary? It seems difficult when my brain tends to go all over the place so I might have to ask you to bear with me.
A few months ago I read a post on FaceBook about how wonderful life was and someone else commented indicating it was selfish to feel that way when so many suffered, were homeless and others mistreated and tormented. Reading this hit me hard because I felt truth in it and yet…
It’s way too easy to give in to despair, to feel life is too hard too unpleasant and not worth living. Many people seem intent on ruining this life for the rest of us to make it even better for them its true and yet…
In every given day even when shit storms are happening there are countless moments of beauty, a flower, the smile of a baby, the full moon, someone doing a random act of kindness for someone else.
I would not and don’t ever advocate closing our eyes, ears, hearts or minds to the plights of others. I believe compassion to be one of the most important qualities to develop along with love yet if we get so wrapped up in the horrors of the world that we can’t appreciate awesomeness than what’s any of it for? What keeps us going?
So I will admit that all too many of us have really rough lives and help in anyway I can at the moment but I will also say appreciate and love the beauty, the kindness, the love, maybe even just a bit more. It gives us the strength to make life better for everyone.
Blessings, G
Somewhat Platonic Fractal Campfires by G A Rosenberg 
