Rules For Grown-ups

I have been reading a book in the last week called "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. While ultimately, I find that I have not loved the book because it's a little self-righteous, insecure, and inconsistent, I have found some little nuggets of ideas from the book that have managed to stick in my conscious and unconscious mind. One of them comes right from the start of the book. The author makes a list of "rules of adulthood" or things that she has figured out as an adult that were not always self-evident to her younger self. Among them are things like..."Ibuprofen really does help a headache go away, so just take it." And my favorite, "No one should ever begin a sentence with the words 'No offense, but..." I figured that since I'm 35 now, surely I must have figured out some of my own rules of adulthood.

Here is what I have come up with:

-In a group, the pickiest eater should always choose the restaurant.
-Not everyone has to like you.
-Don't "yuck" somebody's "yum" (Meaning, if sushi, classical music, or hang-gliding aren't your things, it doesn't mean the person who does like them is stupid or crazy.)
-If it takes less than a minute to put something away...just put it away.
-I am a work in progress.
-So is everyone else.
-Never get into a serious discussion when you're tired or hungry.
-Siblings are the only people in your life who totally and completely "get it."
-A nice email/note/Facebook update really does make you feel good.
-White shirts and toddlers just don't mix.
-Be 100% loyal to your spouse.
-If you haven't worn it in more than a year, just get rid of it already.
-Your life will be a lot less stressful if you give people the benefit of the doubt.
-It's okay to say "No" sometimes.
-If you're always too busy to help out a friend, it's probably time to cut something out.
-Don't ever let anyone take a picture of you in a bathing suit.

That's it for now...I'll add to the list as grow up a little more.