The unpublished book of unwritten rules

I was raised with many rules.

"It is not proper to put your elbows on the table."

"Keep you back straight."

"No kissing boys in the house. No bringing boys in the house. Out of the question to let your boyfriend sleep in the house!"

"It is improper to eat a banana while walking."

"Stop looking at yourself in the mirror you will be vain!"

"Be back at 10."

But mom, everyone can stay until 11......

What do you think happened when I moved out of my parents?

Some would think that I would rebel, take drugs and cut the cords with my family.

Nope!

I continued the tradition, I followed the rules. I even invented new ones for myself.

"You can't start this project you are too old." (I was 22.)

"You can't spend all this money on a trip, it's not responsible."

"You can't make a living writing."

I had so many rules in my non existent book, they shrunk my life to a point that I physically couldn't breathe.

Until I decided to burn the book. To write new rules for myself and to start living more by them.

"You don't have to suffer to create. Creation can be an act of joy."

"You don't have to stay in a situation that makes you unhappy - a job, a relationship."

"You can laugh and find the silliness in life's curveballs. In retrospect, life is so damn funny!"

"You can stumble, fall and get back on your feet. Nobody is really watching you. They are too busy with their own rules."

What was in your book of unwritten rules? Which one would you burn? Which one will you keep or invent?