The big joys of tiny rebellions
A little defiance suits you
We’re all soft rebels.
We do things we shouldn’t. We break harmless rules. We engage in small acts of defiance.
We do it because they bring big joys to the everyday. We do it because every now and then, we like to go against the expectations others hold for us. Or the ones we hold for ourselves. We do it because who wants to take life seriously all the time?
Our tiny rebellions can differ; our background, circumstances, and opportunities are not the same. It could be eating a cookie for breakfast—not eating breakfast at all—wearing bright yellow boots to a job interview—sitting in a parked car until our favourite songs ends even though we’re late—losing precious sleep over a book. It’s whatever we choose to defy just for a moment.
I was what you would call a ‘high achiever’ in a past existence. Fuelled by perfectionism and a fear of failure, much of that life was rigid and unrelenting. As a young adult, tiny rebellions were a way to safeguard my spirit and creative curiosity. As an adult-adult, tiny rebellions have become my way to savour the spark of daily life amongst the barrage of to-do’s and to-do-even-when-you-don’t-want-to’s.
But sometimes, the you-should’s are deafening— opinions, beliefs, unsolicited advice, and sometimes, rightfully so, scientific recommendations. So, when we break a little rule, we feel guilt, shame, or fear.
I still carry the bones of a high achiever, which means that sometimes I struggle with uncertainty and doing less. A little defiance every so often lets me shed that skin for just a while and enjoy the day for what it is. And so, if it’s harmless, I have learned to ignore the noise (including my own).
Other than laws, we can pretty much take everything else in life as suggestions. (And even some laws are to be questioned). So, let’s celebrate our fleeting rebellions and do them often.