I wrote this post a long time ago when I first started my blog.  I had this idea of getting personal in my writing and taking a break from beauty posts every once in a while. I still do it from time to time and recently I came across this post and I realized how much I loved it and how much it still applied today. So I decided to tidy it up a little bit and share it again.

Yesterday, while I was talking on the phone with my friend she said something to me that just made me realize how genius she truly is.  We were talking about people and she said to me “The Playground Rules Apply in Adult Life Also.” Consider my mind blown.  Could something as simple as Playground Rules really be true for adults as well?  Playground rules are clear-cut and simple.  You knew the rules and you followed them.  Or if you didn’t, you were punished and quite possibly, humiliated in front of your classmates.  Maybe as adults, we need to “re-learn” some of these simple rules?!?

 

The Playground Rules Still Apply:

1. No Butting In Line

You gotta wait your turn.  Taking shortcuts will get you nowhere! So don’t try to skip ahead the next time you think you can.  It would do you better to just wait your turn.  You’ll appreciate it more once you get to your “final destination.”  I think it’s important to remember that hard work pays off.  Sure, people might get promoted faster than you or become more successful than you, but take the time to learn along the way and go at your own pace.

 

2. The Buddy System

I think that a good friendship is like the buddy system they used to teach us back in the days. Having someone by your side, to help you out is really important.  I know when I need advice, my friends and family are the first people that I go to.  Just make sure you aren’t the type of friend that constantly takes help and advice from your friend, but you aren’t giving and listening in return.  That’s not a good buddy system at all! We can’t do everything alone!! Be open to your friends and family.  Make sure that you’re listening to what they have to say and that you are there when they need help and guidance. Sometimes people don’t always come right out and say that they need help or support.

I’ve had people in my life who I loved so much and thought I had the best relationship and/or friendship with to only find out in the end, they weren’t the best of friends that I thought they were.  Honestly, same can apply to family as well.  You have to make sure that they are actually by your side, supporting you as well. It shouldn’t be just a one sided relationship.

 

3.  Sharing Is Caring

Oh man. I could write a whole post on this one in particular.  I find anymore that people don’t share.  They don’t do for others.  When is the last time that you shared something with someone?  I always remember my grandmother telling me to share your wealth.  Don’t be stingy and only do for yourself.  I also should mention that my grandmother was not wealthy, but would have given her last dollar to someone else if she felt that they needed it.  It’s not just about money, either.  Share yourself with the people in your lives.  Maybe you have a talent that would benefit someone else?  I know that I always try to share what I have with others.  It could be something as simple as products that were sent to me that I won’t use, even opening up and sharing myself with others or maybe even treating my friends and family to an unexpected surprise in the mail.  At the end of the day, what good will it do you to keep all of your talents and wealth for yourself? Or possibly even worse, to know that you never shared your “real” self with anyone.

 

4. Play Nice

Oh man.  Adults really STILL can act like children.  I’ll make this one really short and sweet.  Get over yourself and be nice!!  Everyone has bad days, I get that, but some people are just not nice to others at all and nor do they care about what others are going through.  Where will that get you in life? Pretty much nowhere!!  Adults can be BRUTAL and I think at times we forget that we aren’t on a playground, but instead, this is real life!  So play nice. I’m not saying that you have to be nice to every single person that you interact with daily, but be kind and compassionate.  We never know what the other person is dealing with, so that’s something to remember as well.

 

5.  Remember To Have Fun

We get so caught up in our lives anymore that sometimes we forget to just have fun!  When is the last time that you did something fun? Maybe even something as little as visiting a playground?  It’s necessary in life, to just let it go for a moment or two and be worry-free.  So remember to do what is fun to you! Whatever that is.  Going crazy over deadlines, neglecting yourself and others in your life, trying to keep up with everyone else will make your life a living hell.  I went through a period of this in my life and I’m sure we all have a time or two.  I’ve worked so hard on making sure that I’m still keeping up with my adult responsibilities, but that I’m also not living a meaningless life.  That means making sure I take time out to have fun and do things that bring me happiness.  That will lead to such a happier life.

 

 

When you were younger and on the playground you made friends, you didn’t worry about anything else but having fun. Yeah at times you probably had to defend yourself against those people who stood in your way, but you also learned to faced your fears (how high could you go on the swing and then jump off???) developed crushes and experienced “heartbreak” and you truly became our own person, whether you realized it or not.  As an adult, I sit here and realize that life is literally a playground and it’s up to you to still follow those rules that you learned as a child.