Rules To Go By

No one's life should be run by rules. No one should pay attention to rules when they are not necessary. The ideas and values that people follow and use to judge right from wrong are learned neither from teachers nor parents, but rather from personal experience. Figures of authority often present guidelines and open up doors to help people realize these values, but ultimately it is in the hands of the person as to whether or not they choose to accept these ideas as their own. These are some that I've chosen to accept:

Don't steal from others; Don't let others steal from you.

Don't believe everything you hear.

Don't do everything you're told.

Always keep your eyes open.

Never stop thinking.

Don't hurt others; Don't let others hurt you.

Don't try to hide from reality.

Don't close your mind to new ideas.

Thoughts and ideas are two very different things.

Don't speak too soon, don't speak too much.

Ignorance needs not be permanent.

Find things out for yourself.

Respect the world around you.

Don't regret.

Money is not synonymous with wealth.

Don't forget the past; Don't fear the future.

The fascinating thing about these values is that the list is endless and ever changing depending on what we go through as human beings. Nothing is permanent and there is no official right or wrong other than popular agreement. My list has grown and contracted in the past and will continue to do so as time proceeds. We, as humans, can only rely on what we know in the present and hope that our judgments will successfully lead us to where we want to be.