I don't play by the rules. Why, you may ask?
On my eighth birthday, I received a little travel box, with personalized stationary, pens and my favorite gift of them all, a bumper sticker stating "A man is not a financial plan." Now, let me explain why this is one the best gift I've ever received and the most important gift an eight-year-old could receive. I grew up in a religious household, I was sheltered from the outside world. I believed in Santa and the Easter Bunny far too old. I was raised by strong women, strong women who influenced me to not play by the rules, to break the standard of a woman and who society wants her to be. I observed these women, I observed women on TV and I knew I wanted to one day be that woman.
"A man is not a financial plan," I was born to know and understanding this sticker. This sticker represents independence, a moral compass and democracy. Throughout life you will meet these people, these people who change you and help create you. My mother taught me independence, my aunt taught me humor and my cousin taught me how to stay grounded. These women have helped shape me into the woman I am today and taught me I don't have to play by the rules to have a successful life. A successful life is defined differently by many. Many view money, or material items as success. Living a successful life teaches not only myself, but others how to properly access a situation and not only have fun but stay smart, humorous and confident. Strong women have taught little girls how to properly thrive as adults, to believe in their dreams and to acknowledge their own failure to uplift others for success.
I don't play by the rules for one reason: I don't think there should be rules on how a person lives their life. As a woman, I have seen strong women, their paths they created and how successful I can and will become from knowing them. "A man is not a financial plan." I go back to this memory and not only laugh, but realize what a turning point it was in my life. Even if I was just an innocent eight-year-old child, who had dreams of college and a career. From early on I was taught that playing by the rules will only get you so far in life. Don't play by the rules, don't play by the rules for one reason, we should not be competing with anyone but ourselves.
"A man is not a financial plan," why does society broadcast this stigma? Why are we as a culture, letting this overcome a person's worth and measure based on gender or sex. I don't play by the rules because there should not be rules on my worth in society; my worth as a woman should be equivalent to a man's and vise versa. As a society, we tend to view but not proceed. Why is this? Why is that we can view a situation on financial issues and job demands, with viewing the situation but not speaking up. Are we scared to fail, or is society completely warped into the past generations. I don't play by the rules and neither should you -- why disguise who you are based on stigma. Follow successful people, define your own success and don't forget to fail.
