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Flow Chart Kind of Life

When did we learn to live by the book?

Ana Maria Echeverry

Mar 07, 2017

Acworth, Georgia

You know what freaks me out?

Our lives are literally mapped out by the society we live in. I am a marketing major, so my main concern is to know exactly what people want when they want it and why they want it. I was promptly taking notes when I realized that my parents and my most of the people I know actually fall into the categories that I was charting out. I know that at this point you're like, well yeah Ana, professionals have been collecting data for years to enhance the market experience for consumers and producers. Fine, but if that doesn't make you feel a little odd then I am sorry for you. I mean, SERIOUSLY. We've been placed into boxes, and what I find striking is that we fall into these boxes without thinking about it. We have simply been conditioned to fit right in, to go through each stage in life as if there are no other choices. We've been socialized to be bachelors, then newly wedded, then full nest one, two and three, empty nesters one and two, and finally solitary survivors. AND THAT IS JUST CONCERNING OUR LIVES AFTER WE MOVE OUT OF OUR PARENTS' HOUSE. We've mapped out childhoods and teen years, as well as college years.

Perhaps this is a silly thought provoked by caffeine and deadlines, but I feel so trapped in this idea of what my life should be. I don't know about you, but I do not want to live a textbook life. In 50 years, if I uncover my Consumer Behavior notes, I do not want to read through them and think, yeah I did everything by the book.

I want to defy the "professionals", the data collectors, the textbook authors that simplify our life experiences into colorful flowcharts. Maybe this is lame, but I want to invite you to defy the odds and create a life of your own. Make a life that a chart cannot hold, that a textbook would not dare expose. Make a life that perplexes marketing professionals. Be the 1% that skews the data. And if you know someone like this, talk to them. Listen and learn and congratulate them for being more than a statistic.

Rant over.

Side note: If your dream is to live a life that is perfectly mapped out in a textbook, please disregard my frustration. Everyone should live the life they dream of, and I completely respect your decision to live however you like.

Side note 2: Live however you'd like as long as it's not hurting anyone else... I like clarification.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Flow Chart Kind of Life

When did we learn to live by the book?

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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