100 Reasons Life Ain’t So Bad: #99

#99: Encountering A Troublemaker.

My lovely bride and I recently attended an art ‘n crafts class sponsored by our local library service. Yes, our union is still sparking like a live wire…

I was actually subbing for my daughter, who was unable to attend, a fact we explained several times to our fellow attendees.

A dozen of them.

All female.

I am happy to report that I survived.

However, as our instructor was explaining the finer points of creating a dragonfly made of wire and plastic beads, my young love decided to go her own way. And so she did when the time came to put our instructions into action, making subtle adjustments to her creation, like not including antennae. Our instructor, plainly put, was not impressed.

“You attend these classes to learn to do new things as instructed… that’s why you’re all here, isn’t it?”

Yes, I had to put on a sweater after being exposed to that rather brisk tone. My other half, of course, was completely unaffected – which made me fall in love with her all over again…

All of us have run into troublemakers in the past, and not just in school; they’re everywhere. At work. While we’re in line at the DMV. At the grocery store.

They really are all over the place, kids. To be Swarovski clear, I’m not referring to lawbreakers and not necessarily rule breakers. Troublemakers are a special breed.

There are those who do as they’re told and those who pull a Fleetwood Mac and go their own way. They’re not doing it to ruffle feathers (usually) but if it does… so be it.

I’ve been accused of being a troublemaker within the walls of the hotel but that’s entirely accurate. I’m more of a… well, that’s a post for another day. Still, being slapped with that label isn’t a bad thing at all, Reader.

The cold hard truth is this: 

We need troublemakers.

They keep us on our toes while inspiring us to rethink conventional structures – but only if we’re willing to take the time to really examine the trouble they’re making at the moment. Troublemakers forge new paths. The most successful of the breed will change the world, though most will merely set off a bottle rocker or two in the hallowed halls of an often mediocre and complacent society.

But all of them have their place in society, their role to play on the world stage.

So embrace the troublemakers in your life, Reader, they’re just doing the things we all wish we could do when life gets too boring or overwhelming. Reward them with egg rolls not eye rolls.