Life Outside the Lines

In driving this week I came across these tire tracks in the road. My first reaction was that someone had a lot of fun driving and spinning their wheels. It took some time and effort to create this pattern. It made me think of young people joy riding and having fun on a lonely road. Then I thought about how loud it must have been, and that only one car was involved. As I drove over them on my way back home, I thought about the dangerous side of this kind of activity. Granted the road is pretty rural, and no other cars were probably on the road, but what if someone had been coming? There would have been a terrible accident and many people would have been injured. I realized that just seeing these tire tracks made me think about all sides of the situation.

As I thought about my thinking pattern I realized I enjoyed the excitement and fun that I imagined occurred. I thought about the kids playing around and the creative way they drove outside the lines. I thought about small town youth finding something different to do on a lonely road. And I thought about the exhilaration and could appreciate the spirit in which these tracks were created. Then the practical adult in me kicked in. I thought about how dangerous this was. I thought about what might have happened if another car showed up. I thought about the youth being reprimanded by parents and police if they had been caught. In passing these tracks I thought about all this, and in that order. I started out being impressed and admiring the people who dared to buck the rules and drive like crazy. What fun, what an adventure. I ended being concerned and a little disgusted. What foolishness and careless regard for the safety of others.

When I look at these tire tracks I see someone who went outside of the system, drew outside of the lines, and lived dangerously. I had to admit that at first I admire that, then the conformist inside moves towards concern and criticism. And if I am truly honest with myself I react that way to change and stepping outside of the box all too often. The regulator in me struggles with wanting the benefits and creativity of change, yet the safety and security of things staying within the rules. And then Eleanor Roosevelt came to mind. She said, “Well behaved women rarely make history.”

So here’s to the people who have the guts and the courage to misbehave, draw outside the lines, and live a bit dangerously. They remind us that life is meant to be lived outside of the lines more often than our inner selves may allow.