The RUB Inside

The RUB Inside We were all “idiots” when we were young children. Born with a natural curiosity, we loved to explore. We took the most direct path to whatever we wanted. We had no knowledge of fear or failure. We took pleasure in achieving successes, no matter how small. We looked forward to the little treats and hugs that accompanied every achievement, from our first wobbly step to our first word. Those early years were the “idiot” years. And then something happened. To be precise, rules happened. Suddenly we were rewarded not for individual achievement but for conforming to an ever more elaborate set of social, behavioral, and academic rules. Exploring a winding path while the rest of the class marched neatly in twos on a class field trip became cause for a tongue-lashing. Playing in a distant neighborhood with unknown friends got us grounded. It wasn’t long before we learned the world’s lessons: Don’t take risks. Don’t do anything different. Stay close to home. Watch out for danger. Listen to your elders (and betters). All we heard was “No. Stop asking so many questions.” Most of us promised ourselves we’d “do our own thing” just as soon as we grew up, left home, graduated, got a job… whatever. But the reality is, those pesky rules just stuck with us through all the years of higher education and career building. We stayed on the straight path. We did what was expected. We obeyed. And what was our reward? Today we’re Right side Up and Broke--we’re RUB’s -by Robert Shemin, Author “How Come That Idiot’s Rich and I’m Not?”