Prompt: Write the rules.

I want you to write an essay on the meaning of your life.

It has to be eight pages, and no more than thirteen. Make sure it’s double spaced and in Times New Roman with 1” margins with a header ½” including last name and page number – you need to site 6 outside resources, make sure that you indent sources 5 spaces and that resources are included in a works-cited page.

If you misspell 4 or more words you fail, if you break the formatting guidelines you fail, if you question why these guidelines are important, you fail.

Stupid right?

Since the time we’re old enough to go to school we’re spoon fed compliance, obedience, guidelines, and road-maps. We’re graded on how well we’ve followed instructions, graded on listening intently, not arguing.

Don’t challenge the paradigm. Don’t break the status-quo. Follow.

It’s a shame and a sham.

No doubt, we need followers – but there sure are a lot of followers. The people who make a difference write their own rules.

I’d much rather write the rules.

If you want, write an essay on the meaning of your life; write it however you want; no rules.