Steppin' Out

"The more you are out of step with society, the greater your chances for self-discovery and happiness in this world."

-- Ernie J. Zelinski

I grew up in a family where the number one rule was: Don't Make Waves. Blend in, get along, be, as the Kinks sang "a well respected man about town, doing the best things so conservatively." It was the Gospel of Conformity coupled with the Gospel of Comfort. And even though my parents had the best of intentions, it was all a crock.

From the time I slid down that Zoom Floom commonly known as the uterine canal, I intuitively knew that it was a sham, and when I reached my tween years, I was openly expressing those sentiments. Not a popular position to take, either around the dinner table or in the classroom. To me authenticity, even idiosyncrasy, trumped conformity any day.

Just take a look around. It's easy to see that you can't be a clone and be happy. You can't be a robot and be happy. The only shot you have at happiness is to be yourself. And, if you're really, truly being yourself, odds are you'll be stepping outside societal norms and shattering the invisible cultural barriers that surround us all.

Many of us take an alternative route during out teens and early twenties. Then we age and mellow and settle. And before we know it we're wage slaves just like our parents, except we're dressed in "business casual" rather then suits. We're putting in our time, waiting for the weekends, waiting to retire, waiting to really live. Only real life never comes because there is no real life off somewhere in the future. This is it -- right here, right now. And we're too busy being good, being stable, playing a role to enjoy it.

Remember that beat Thoreau talked about? It's still rocking within you! Your own personal beat, as unique as your fingerprints, as different from the cultural drone as hip hop is from the waltz. That beat is your unique path. That beat is the one thing most worth listening to.

Maybe Timothy Leary was right. "Turn on, tune in, drop out" is ultimately good advice. And you don't even need drugs to do it. Turn on to the energy of life, tune into the beat of your soul, drop out of the societal fantasy of conformity.

Step out now. Happiness awaits!