![Exceptions.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaez3nDNT8e5zo5AqHMfKnaZHyU2xwHyfgt7YvhkJubAo/Exceptions.png)

<h1><center>Don’t Make Exceptions</center></h1>

In this life, to protect what’s yours, you have to set up some rules that will keep away the bad stuff from you. Per example, if you want to protect your time, you have to set up some rules like not watching TV at all, or only taking phone calls in a particular time of the day or if you want to protect your health, you have to set up rules like not eating from fast foods.

The rules are all great because will make a clear line between you and the outside world, a line that if you keep strong, no one can cross and that it’s easier, but the hard thing is to prevent yourself from passing it.

If you have the rule that you’re not eating the fast food then if that hot chick asks you to go at McDonald's with her you won’t make an exception just because she’s hot. You will have to stand by your rule and either take her out to a proper restaurant where they serve adequate food or turn her down.

![Untitled-1.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXWGRhkCGJCevGQamApZvkRQ1E4pCpyfnvDEYosiAcGym/Untitled-1.jpg)

If you make an exception for her, because you want to get in her pants, but you’re afraid of confronting her, then that exception will soon become the new rule. Once you make an exception, the new exception will become the new rule. From now on instead of never eating fast foods you will make an exception, you will now eat every weekend from McDonald's just because it doesn't seem such a bad thing, you will make an exception that will soon take over and become the new rule. You either stay strong by your standards, or you may as well not even create them.

<center>![Guy break.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXbKPNNwkg9c3JvqxX5nUZ13ChLeiaDiFCUdC4nFVPtto/Guy%20break.png)</center>

<h1><center>My Story</center></h1>

About two months ago, after regularly checking out @gamer00’s posts, I was fired up about photography and decided to take part into his OPED(One photo every day) initiative and start to post photography.

At first, I was very excited, and I remember that I took a lot of pictures in my first weekend, in the hope that I will learn something and get better, hell, I was so pumped up that I even took the commitment of posting photography every day for one year. Little did I know what was going to happen, on one Friday when I was getting ready for a party, I either forgot to make the post and, or I didn’t have enough time, I can’t even remember but it was one of them, and I skipped a day.

![IMG_20170916_184906.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUn2CnV18Ew7p4ucvrwxgYkR2qncnYJG1CkCmpqbwqDTC/IMG_20170916_184906.jpg)
<center>*Original Picture*</center>

I made an exception; I didn’t post for one day even if I said that I would post every day and soon that exception became the new rule. It only took a few obstacles form the life for me to drop off publishing photography, I had to change my phone, and I didn’t have a camera for about one week. When I received the new phone, the exception already took over, and I didn’t post photography posts ever since.

![IMG_20170926_123014.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbZPGoTjX1XgPgT1S3nyKpweZtem3FZH5dfkUR8VWxCqR/IMG_20170926_123014.jpg)
<center>*Original Picture*</center>

This story is not about commitments because it’s a good thing that I dropped out of posting photography since I wasn’t good enough and now I have more time to focus on my writings, but this is a story that can significantly point out how the exceptions can take over.

<center>![Guy break.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXbKPNNwkg9c3JvqxX5nUZ13ChLeiaDiFCUdC4nFVPtto/Guy%20break.png)</center>

<h1><center>Conclusion</center></h1>

You have to be aware if you have set up rules, goals or commitments because you never know when life might throw a challenge at you and making one exception is enough. You do it once you’ll do it twice, is that simple.

https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/01/07/03/07/business-3066442_960_720.jpg

You have to be cautious because life will kick you in the balls when you expect it the least and one little exception is enough to destroy your whole behavior. Now you will remember that one time when you did it and think it won't be so bad to do it again, so on and so forth until you even forget what the initial rule was.

Don't make exceptions for anyone because you will soon make them for everyone.

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*The other pictures are taken from Pixabay: [1](https://pixabay.com/en/colorful-doodle-soda-cartoon-set-3042582/), [2](https://pixabay.com/en/business-currency-finance-dollar-3066442/).*

If you want to have a chat, feel free to give me a ping on any of my communities: [Be Awesome](https://discord.gg/SThV2NP), [SPL](https://discord.gg/zskzB7n), [The Writer's Block](https://discord.gg/4qDSGpm).

My top four Witnesses, you should vote for: @ocd-witness, @wackou, @pharesim, and @reggaemuffin.

<center>[![guyfawkes4-20.gif](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcMZVVTA8ayd8vvufULvFoKdA6MdYBYdNX37H7BA5VkFH/guyfawkes4-20.gif)](https://steemit.com/@guyfawkes4-20)</center>

![Guy.gif](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTpXjwTiE9FgNnuQpQwf4hBCZYUYuivokAfjdqQLYzzJ1/Guy.gif)

*<center>This gif was made by @laabo-afolabi, if you would like your own customized animated footer, contact him on discord at laabo-afolabi#9957</center>*