My life has always been lived inside the lines.
As a child, I always chose not to get into trouble. When my brothers and sisters played out in the backyard, I stayed inside with my mother, watching her cook and iron, as I kept out of the trouble my siblings were finding. I quickly found out that when I stayed out of trouble, it pleased people. That’s how I became I people pleaser. If doing something would displease someone, I wouldn’t do it. I was that way at home and at school, and everywhere I went. It became my modus operandi. Do the safe thing. Do the right thing. Do what pleases others.
In my family, I was the one that attracted positive attention at home and at school. I missed out on a lot of things fun and on a lot of growing experiences just because I had to stay within the lines. I remember when I graduated from high school. I was going around getting my year book signed. I took it to Mrs. Juarez in the Attendance Office. She looked at me and said, “You have never gotten a CUT, have you?” I said I hadn’t so she signed my book “to one that has never gotten one” and then stamped it with her CUT stamp.
When I got to college, everyone else was into drinking and smoking pot. In the dorm, they were all amazed that I had never been out drinking with friends in high school and that I had never smoked pot. Even now, at 52, I surprise people when they find out that I have never smoked pot or taken any drugs.
Sometimes I get tired of living inside the lines. I wonder what it would be like to have an adventure that took me beyond those lines, just once. What would it feel like to be the “bad girl” for a change?
One of these days, before it’s too late, I will do something outside the lines. Just once I will do something wild!
Speaking as the black sheep of my family, sometimes being the bad girl and going wild isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
And sometimes it is. 😉
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well look me up when you are ready,,, i can get you in more trouble in one evening than most people get in in a life time!!!!!!!LOL!!!!!!
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Yes, being the “hippie” daughter had its drawbacks. I had a good old time in my 20s, and of course, I have nothing to show for it, except some wild memories.
I wish I’d have stayed within the lines.
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Well, you’re too late for a teenage pregnancy. I recommend buying a ridiculous sports car, or shacking up with a 25 year old.
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The great thing about waiting until you’re an adult to be a bad girl is that you can choose your wildness wisely, and save it for something you’ll really enjoy, rather than rebelling for no reason, and taking the same boring crazy chances everyone else is taking.
I think I’m saving mine up to buy an hour at Portland Speedway in a race car. But I have to learn to drive a stick shift, first.
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Wow, David! That actually sounds appealing to me. I did drive a stick shift for two weeks while my transmission was being replaced ages ago. I could probably pick it up again. Hhmmm. It sounds really good to me!
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