A Daily Philosophy
24 Rules from Rachel's Life
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about personal philosophies and daily routines. The little things we do each day without much thought end up shaping both who we are and the world around us.
As the years pass, new habits and practices have gradually been incorporated into my life. Last night I started jotting down a list of these habits or “rules,” thinking that I’d compile my own “12 rules,” but I very quickly ended up with 39. For the sake of time and space, I’ve edited the list to 24 of my favorites. Perhaps I’ll share the rest at some point in the future.
Some of these are hard and fast rules that I strictly adhere to, but most are general practices that I strive to incorporate into my life as time and opportunity permit. If I had to summarize them, I think they all come down to being present in the moment, receiving others in your life, engaging in your community, and last but not least, appreciating the beauty of simple things.
Look up and notice the sky each day.
Notice the stars and the moon each night.
Get your hands dirty at some point each day. Cooking, gardening, fixing something, working out.
Leave your house in a state ready to welcome someone special: you at the end of the day!
Always bring a book and writing material with you, wherever you go. When you’d usually reach for your phone to pass time in waiting rooms, coffee shops or when you’re bored, instead read or write.
Buy flowers for people who deserve them, often.
Drink wine on Sundays.
Go to Adoration when you feel least holy and furthest from God.
Break a sweat a few times a week as a way to destress.
Use a physical planner. Be okay with crossing plans out and changing them as needed.
Ask people instead of Googling your questions.
Find your “corner” or the world and return to it often (for more thoughts, see Capturing Views).
Frequent your local coffee shop, even when you don’t necessarily need a caffeine pick me up. Strike up conversations with the baristas or other customers.
Buy more books than you can read.
Spin around when you want to - even if someone else might see you.
Frequently choose someone’s needs over your own and change your plans to help them.
Ask people more questions than they ask you.
Allow yourself to do activities without a deadline or a timeline. Linger in the moment.
Publicize the pain. So often we complain about pain points to our friends and peers but never bring them up to someone who can actually address the issue. Either stop complaining or make an effort to escalate to someone who can fix the issue.
Read the psalms.
Cook steak at 10:00PM, just for yourself. Savor every bite.
Make time in your life for the things that you say you love. People, places, hobbies.
Use people’s names when addressing them. We affirm someone’s personhood when we call them by name.
Get to know the people around you. You don’t necessarily need to become close friends; it’s the quick interactions with various acquaintances throughout the day that help us to feel seen and grounded in our community. Some of my favorite moments are when someone waves at me at a redlight or stops to say hi when they see me in public.