It’s been almost two years since Penguins Can’t Fly was published. It features forty of the most common rules that don’t exist, but with each passing day, I am even more convinced that there are more like forty million, keeping us enslaved to Adultitis without us even noticing. A few weeks ago, I asked Escape Adulthood Insiders to share some of the so-called rules they most love breaking. I got so many good ones!
This week, I wanted to play mild-mannered reporter and pass along a few of my favorites, because I they are great reminders for everyone.
Thou shalt only observe morning once a day. (Melissa LeFever)
“Why can’t we start the day over whenever we need? Sometimes we need a couple chances in a day to get it right. I learned to break this rule when I had my worst parenting day ever. I told my daughter that the day started over after nap because we both needed a new start. It worked. We started with a fresh plate and fresh attitude. Sometimes we need discipline and sometimes we need grace.”
Thou shalt not use all of your vacation time. (Heather Holm)
“My office has this unwritten rule that we don’t use vacation time – even though they give a lot of time to us. So this morning I booked a flight to London for this summer and a second flight to the East Coast for fall! No way am I going to lose vacations days because the boss lives at work.”
Thou shalt decide for thyself what thou shalt eat at a restaurant (Ed Marks)
“While traveling and trying to support some of the local businesses, I’ve sometimes just told the waiter or waitress, ‘Surprise me with what you or the chef think I’d like.’ Many times it throws them off a bit but when I assure them I’m serious, I normally end up with something really, really good. On a couple of occasions it’s been something not even in the menu, which is fun. It allows me to be surprised and also lets the restaurant have some fun and be a little out of the ordinary.”
Thou shalt give your real name when waiting for a table at a restaurant. (Aimee Inman)
“My favorite rule that doesn’t exist is giving the hostess at a restaurant your real name for the wait list. Ever since my daughter was born, my husband and I use her name. Now that she’s 4, she thinks it’s so cool and special when her name gets called. She then leads the parade to the table. I think I might let her pick what name we use the next time just to see what she comes up with!”
Thou shalt not blow your straw wrapper at a fellow diner. (Leanne Rohn)
‘Nuff said.
Which of these “rules” are YOU going to break this week?
I break food-eating rules all the time…if anyone was to arrive for certain meals (like in just drop by, not invite) they would be astounded that I wasn’t eating cereal for breakfast or that my night time meal was in mid-arvo…or something else!
I suddenly decided a few months ago that “cereal” wasn’t my friend and it didn’t do all it is supposed to do fuel-wise…now I eat a cooked breakfast which usually lasts me around to mid-arvo…with a bit of liquid at times…
And then I decided who said “I had eat by this rule…”
We often have only dessert for dinner. Who says you have to eat the 4 food groups every meal?
indeed, these traditional ideas, are something from history of “rules for…” insert whatever you think a rule was :-)
Indeed!