Let’s get bad.
Paint the town red, drive without a seatbelt, swear in public, drink although your liver is crying otherwise. Sounds pretty wicked right? We know it is so bad, but doing it at the same time feels so right.
From the early days of teen angst, of being a religious listener of Paramore and The Veronicas, staying out past 10 p.m., to being in bed before midnight. The transition from being a teenager to an adult has been always been an interesting turn of events to reflect on.
I was always told as a child to never do anything bad, and that could be along the lines of stealing candy, saying mean things to your friend, do not talk to strangers, the list goes on. However, the reasons of why I should not do them was never really explained to me. As a result, curiosity ended up killing the cat, and a few years down the road, I started testing the waters. Coming home late, skipping classes (applicable in middle school), failing tests, I was so tired of abiding to a routine, and I just wanted life to cut me some slack.
It was only in college I realized that if I continued to not do well in my assignments, it would affect my overall grade for the course, as well as my G.P.A. If I skipped classes in school, I would have trouble understanding the rest of the next lesson, therefore leading me to do badly in the upcoming exams, therefore leading to failing the class itself. If I came home late all the time, I would need to make sure that what I was waking up for the next day did not require my full attention, which unless, the weekend, it did not make sense to sleep late if I had to wake up for school/work the next day.
We often hear that we should “do as you are told.” While most people might agree with that statement, I am less inclined to agree.
Unless there is a valid reason provided to our younger selves of why it should not be done, as well as the many implications surrounding it, no matter how brutal explaining that reality might be, it will be worthwhile in the end. Context is everything.
While boundaries have their valid reasons of establishment, people are going to make mistakes, and unless the problem presents itself to them as an actual problem, a warning can just be that, a warning.
From the dawn of time, mankind has been rebelling, from all aspects; social, societal, physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, you name it. Rebelling is inevitable, so all we can do is be ready for it. However, when guilt sets in, and realization takes hold, the need to fix the situation will overcome us, therefore, making rebellion our greatest teacher.
On the other hand, rebellion has also allowed society to move forward, rights have emerged from it, awareness on social issues, and vice versa. Rebellion has also enabled more room for positive change, where we see fit.
The end results of rebellion are unpredictable, but not unforgettable. Because of rebellion, I watch what I say to other people. Because of rebellion, I spend my money wisely, listen before I speak, know that I have to understand a problem before I take action, and take a breath before reacting. Rebellion has allowed me, and many others like me, to become a better version of ourselves. So, the next time rebellion is seen as a negative, yes, it may be concerning, but it is also a moment to remember, and the most teachable one at that.
petiteshark 