Published March 07, 2026 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

There is a particular kind of thrill many of us remember from childhood – the feeling of “can I get away with this?” It was a rush that came with pulling off a prank or breaking a rule without getting caught. Pocketing a piece of candy from the corner store. Playing ding dong ditch. Vandalizing public property on mischief night. It wasn’t always about the act itself. Often it was about the electricity of the moment – the tension between the rule and the possibility of breaking it.

For kids, that instinct is almost universal. Testing boundaries is part of growing up. We pushed the edges of what was allowed because we were still learning where the lines were. Sometimes we got away with it. Sometimes we got caught. Either way, the emotional spike that came with the risk became part of the memory – especially when we were alongside friends.

But something interesting happens as we get older. That same feeling doesn’t necessarily disappear. In many ways, the thrill of playing with fire can follow us into adulthood.

For some people, that sensation shows up in small ways – driving a little faster than we should, stretching the truth, taking a risk we know isn’t entirely wise. But for others, especially those vulnerable to compulsive behaviors, that same dynamic can begin to show up in more dangerous, subconscious forms.

Sometimes what once felt like harmless rule-testing slowly evolves into something more complicated. The rush of bending the rules can become a habit long before we realize it.

The thrill becomes less about curiosity and more about the rush of risk itself. The moment before clicking “buy” on an item we know we can’t afford. The moment before placing a bet when we know we shouldn’t be gambling. The moment before joining a break we know we’ll end up regretting.

It isn’t always the outcome we’re chasing. Often it’s the anticipation of getting away with something we very well know isn’t smart or healthy.

That’s why so many addictive behaviors contain elements of secrecy or rule-bending. When the brain pairs risk with excitement, the boundary itself becomes part of the reward. What started as innocent childhood experimentation can slowly evolve into a pattern where danger becomes stimulating rather than cautionary.

None of this means someone is broken. It simply means the brain is doing what brains do – seeking novelty, stimulation, and emotional spikes. The problem is that in adulthood, the stakes are no longer scraped knees and mild scolding. The consequences can be financial, emotional, relational, or even life-altering.

Awareness is the first step toward changing that pattern. When we start to notice that familiar feeling – the voice that says “maybe just this once” – we can pause long enough to ask a different question. Not “can I get away with it?” But rather, “why does this feel exciting in the first place?”

That moment of reflection is where intention begins to replace impulse. It’s where the cycle of playing with fire can finally start to cool down. The real thrill, in the long run, isn’t getting away with something. It’s learning how to live in a way where we no longer need to test the edge just to feel alive.

#CollectorsMD
The rush of getting away with something fades quickly. The peace of staying within your boundaries lasts much longer.

—
Follow us on Instagram: @collectorsmd
Subscribe to our Newsletter & Support Group
Join The Conversation On Mantel
Read More Daily Reflections