Is it crazy to go against society’s expectations?

Today’s Daily Prompt suits me perfectly:

Sometimes, we act on impulse: it could be something as small as ordering that special dessert on the menu, maybe asking out that cute boy or girl, or as large quitting your job and selling everything you own to become a shepherd in New Zealand. What’s the most crazy, outrageously impulsive thing you’ve ever done?

Before September of 2009, I was living a pretty normal life. I had lots of friends, got along with my family, had traveled quite a bit, was studying filmmaking abroad, had a boyfriend of my age, believed in God, and was on my way to a normal life with a career and suiting society’s expectations.

On September of 2009 however, I went against everyone’s (friends, family and society) expectations and decided to drop out of college, move to the US with a guy quite a bit older than me whom I met while traveling in India about a year before, and live a life surrendered to God.

There was drama. It was very hard to do because of all the opposition I encountered, but God gave me the strength. About 4 years later, we are happily married and our life has been a constant adventure.

Since we’ve been together, we have done several other “crazy” things including:

In 2010, “throwing a dart at a map” by driving along the East coast of the US and deciding where to live next, sleeping in the car for many days until God chose a place for us.

And in 2013, selling and donating everything we owned except our laptops and a couple suitcases and moving to India.

I don’t regret any of it and I’m sure more crazy decisions will come in the future. But they are all done because of God, we follow Him and we go wherever He takes us.

One important point I’d like to make is that I don’t consider any of the above to be crazy. Uncommon, definitely, unexpected, yes, surprising, maybe… but not crazy.  I take it as God’s will and when you truly surrender, your life becomes an adventure that does not have the same rules as society’s game.

Society’s goal is to add. To have more money, a bigger house, more friends, more titles, more, more, more… 

Our main goal is to subtract as much as possible. Reduce attachments, reduce wants, become like dust at the feet of God. Dust is just there, it doesn’t complain when it’s stepped on, or when it is swept away by the wind.

I guess we live crazy lives.