Living outside the law is severely underrated. I admire outlaws. They’ve gotten a bad rap over time because the story always seems to be told from those in the status quo who hold power. Our media, entertainment and educational institutions always support the status quo because everything they write or otherwise report is written by those within the status quo. I have been moving towards the exit of the status quo for about 20 years now. It began by entering the teaching profession and it continues outside of what is widely considered to be mainstream living. The way I want to live requires being an outlaw and living outside of it as best one can.
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When we attempt to follow the American Dream set before us we automatically become either part of the status quo or are pursuing it in order to become a member.
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When we attempt to follow the American Dream set before us we automatically become either part of the status quo or are pursuing it in order to become a member. Inherent privilege plays a role in our journey. I decided to move towards the exit of my privilege. I have the privilege of rejecting the American Dream which generally includes property ownership, home ownership and a nice car. It also includes higher education, decent health coverage and a pension to retire on. These are benefits many of us pursue and feel secure by having their presence in our lives. They’re also a trap.
Owners become tied down to their property via responsibilities and money owed. Maintenance and mortgages become our lives. Automobiles lose value as soon as they leave the lot. We end up with car payments that last for years. School loans stay with us for decades and require a job to pay them off. We keep the job because of our debt and because it can occasionally provide healthcare coverage. If we’re lucky we can build a pension over decades and retire. I took a more direct route to retirement. Being an outlaw can do the same for you.
All of the aforementioned are in place to keep us in place. Breaking free from wage slavery, debt, fear, and societal expectations requires one to maneuver outside the law. Sure you can take years and play by the rules that have been purposely stacked against you through high interest rates, overpriced luxury items and and job market that does not match your ridiculously high priced education. Or you can cheat the system that is designed perfectly for our self-imposed incarceration. The system won’t even feel the impact of your renegade behavior but you will.
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There’s a reason the planet is being devoured and it’s not on the news. Playing by the rules set forth by actual criminals has consequences.
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There’s a reason people are depressed, filled with anxiety and shallow. There’s a reason the planet is being devoured and it’s not on the news. Playing by the rules set forth by actual criminals has consequences. Asking yourself why anyone would live this way is a good place to start in a life that has genuine intent. Mostly what we’re doing now is following what everyone else is doing or what we’ve been told we should be doing.
I suggest you create a pros and cons list. It’s the simplest comparative analysis procedure out there. List the benefits of remaining in a system that requires your money, time and attention versus the negative impacts of leaving it behind. If you think your credit score, devalued automobile, anchor of a home, and stress filled job are worth 50-60 years (if you live that long after reaching adulthood) then stay the course. But if you see what I see and you feel as I feel then get your ass out the door and start living instead of making a living. Life as an outlaw awaits you. It includes working for cash, food, shelter or whatever your needs happen to be. It includes living outside the code system when it comes to housing. It includes defaulting on you debt. It includes resisting a system that has controlled you from the day you were born. Most importantly, it includes liberation. My days are my own … are yours?
Chase a different carrot.
This story has been republished to Medium.
Photo credit: Shutterstock
