One of the sweetest, most fun Blather-ers, Maggie posted a list of her current “policies” or rules for right now. I try and act all free-spirited and such, but the truth is that I’m a sucker for rules. I like making them, I like breaking them. I especially like when others break them and I get to point it out (what? I’m just being honest!). I got to thinking about all of the policies I inflict upon myself and others in my daily life. Here are a few of my rules:
1. Leave me alone in the morning. Seriously. I am not grumpy in the morning; however, I do like routine. Part of my routine is quiet. I make my lunch, I take my time getting ready. I usually have a few minutes to myself before I get on my way. DO NOT INTERRUPT THE ROUTINE.
2. In that same vein, a day without coffee is a day not worth living. For all y’all who “don’t need it!” or think that “caffeine is an unnecessary drug” you can just shut it. I love my coffee with an unbridled passion.
3. As a rule, I believe in road karma. This means that if at all possible, I let people in, if they use their turn signal and give me warning. I truly, deeply believe that those who let others in tend to be let in more often. I am also a big fan of the courtesy wave.
4. Lately, I’ve been into silence. Meaning: I turn off the music or audiobook in the car, I sit for a few minutes without TV or don’t make any noise in my classroom for a few minutes. And you know what? I swear that those few minutes of silence get me through the day.
5. In my Mondo Beyondo class, there was an interview with the writer/artist SARK and she said that every day, she commits her day to joy. She asks herself what she most wants to do that day, what will make her happiest, and then she does just that. While it’s rare that I can commit an entire day to doing exactly what I’d like, I’ve been trying to ask myself, judgment free, exactly what I WANT to do during my free time, and what will bring me most joy. And then? Not judging myself for it, whether my answer is calling a friend, watching ridiculous TV or something that seems frivolous. I’m just doing what I’d like.
6. I’m trying to be reasonable about food. Not restricting everything, but reasonable. I feel better when I say, “You may have that bit of Autumn Mix since you ate a salad for lunch” as opposed to the “NO SUGAR, YOU FATTY!” mantra I’d embraced for so long.
7. I have been ritualistically including pumpkin in my diet wherever, and whenever, in honor of the season.
Leave me a note in the comments: what are your current policies?
Just A Titch 
My current policy: Focus on the now.
I am SUCH a planner. And while that’s great and all, I sometimes miss what’s happening right in front of me, this present moment, simply because I’m too focused on what’s ahead.
“Be here, in this room, right now, nothing else matters.” Ahhh, yoga brilliance at its best…
My #1 rule right now is: Let it go. Whatever it is, just let it go.
I agree with your road karma. I always let people in and wave people on.
Very good policies! One of mine right now is only blog if it’s fun & I’m inspired to write. Don’t just blog because it’s Thursday and that’s what I do.
I am all about the morning routine policy.
I wake up, drink my coffee and read blogs. I’m not a fan of carrying on conversations in the morning either, I just prefer being quiet, it helps me to have a better day.
DO NOT forget squash… so good this time of year and easy to make. See the below recipe! Hope you enjoy! Very tasty…
Butternut Squash with Lime
Peel one butternut squash and slice into 1/2″ thick pieces
Arrange flat on a baking sheet and drizzle with the following:
-2 tbsp melted butter
-2 tbsp olive oil
-Juice of one lime
Sprinkle with salt and pepper
Turn them to coat
Roast at 400 degrees for 20 mins
Turn them over and roast for another 15-20 mins
Sprinkle with fresh chopped rosemary
Eat!!
1. I was just telling my husband how different my days are when I wake up before the kids – even FIVE MINUTES before. Peace!
2. I used to have caffeine running through my veins, then I gave up coffee for a year and NOW it makes me INSANE. I can’t have more than half a cup before I start wanting to throw my jumpy panicky self off the roof. Isn’t that the saddest thing in the WORLD? I KNOW.
3. Yes. YES.
4. Sometimes I get silence at naptime. Then I fall asleep.
5. I do that too, although I think of it as “what brings me life”. Sometimes it’s three hours of television, sometimes it is definitely NOT three hours of television.
6. Salads were obviously invented to make us feel better about eating brownies for dinner.
7. I love pumpkin everything except pumpkin pie. Maybe I’ll make some pumpkin bread with my 2yo this afternoon… I’ll tell him it’s cake. Close enough!
omg SARK, I used to read her all the time, she rocks! Great post, really fun!
You already know how I feel re: #3, but I have to comment on the courtesy wave. I completely forgot about that in my post and it’s a big ol’ REQUIREMENT if I do something nice like let you in. I always give it and expect it in return.
And #1 – so much word. My routine has a pretty specific nature and any messing with that makes the whole morning go wonky.
Yes on #6! Good for you!
I can agree with so many of these…road karma and morning routines being at the top.
first of all, i love sark.
my biggest policy right now – always get enough sleep. and don’t be so hard on myself. both are constant struggles.
oh yeah, and COFFEE FTW.
My policies are very similar to yours– the routine, the quiet, the courtesy wave, and especially the pumpkin (in oatmeal with cranberries, walnuts, maple syrup, and cinnamon). I’m with Maggie, I love pumpkin everything except for the pie!
One my other policies has been to get out of my head and stop dwelling on stuff. I am constantly working on accepting myself for who I am and what I do (I love being a teacher, it’s just that some of my methods are different from others’ and sometimes I don’t feel like I have enough “cred”).
As always, great post!
Mine are very simple:
1. Relax. “Nothing is as pressing as the one who is pressing would like you to believe.”
2. Do work, son.
3. Laugh. A lot. At everything. Every single day find something to laugh at. Even if it’s yourself.
1 and 2 are closely tied in with references. I wonder if anyone out there knows them. 🙂
I love your policies.
One of mine is take everyday one day at a time, focus on making THIS DAY the best you’ve ever had.
Attitude is everything. Bad attitudes get you nowhere but in a worse attitude. Good attitudes? Light up your life.
i so enjoy silence. just a brief moment or two. it’s nice.
also, road karma, amen. soul sister. the best part of my day is when i let someone in and get a courtesy wave. love. it.