Dog-gone-it!!!

I picked up my first real penalty last Saturday while coaching my son's little league football team. A 15-yarder for unsportsman-like conduct. Yeah baby, I did it right! I'm not exactly proud of the penalty, but it wasn't 'uncalled' for to be 'unsportsman-like'. That referee had it coming anyway. All I was asking him was, "Can you sleep with the call you just made?" - Fair question, right? I mean, if you feel like you made the right call, then sleep away. But if not, then toss and turn your way to a red-eyed tomorrow morning. He deserved it anyway!
Now, for the record, that's not really the reason I provoked the guy to throw the yellow hankie. What got me in trouble was the fact that I was standing beyond the coaches' box, on the field of play. Maybe the yacking was what got his attention, but the reason for the penalty was the violation of the parameters of the designated area for players and coaches. I remember the sinking feeling that hit me at the moment the "ref" reached for his back pocket, for his little yellow "snot-rag"(sorry, I'm still a little miffed). Dog-gone-it! It almost cost us the game! But, I had crossed the line, and I knew it.
Have you ever been there; at a place where you know you've crossed the line, you've gone too far, or said too much? Maybe it was a few more words than was needed to get your point across, or a thought that you held a little longer than you should have. Too far, and you knew it the moment you indulged yourself in the self-gratifying act. Does it still make you feel a little queasy to think about it? You see, we all know that there are parameters that need to be recognized in our every day life. Parameters for every arena of life. One of the most important attributes we can possess through life is the ability to discern the boundaries. And when you see the line, dog-gone-it, don't cross the thing! The penalty may cost you the game.