Routines, spontaneity, and my secrets of adulthood

Until about a decade ago, I didn't think I was a morning person. Honestly, I have no idea why, as I did my best work early in the morning. Perhaps it was because almost everyone I knew wasn't a morning person, and I wanted to fit in? In the last few years, I got into a routine of starting work early with a few occasional exceptions. I also started hiking early, and this has become an important routine. I was also not much of a routine person, and today I realized that I actually like having some routines but like the spontaneity of other things. Just as I realized and recognized that I like some routines, while driving back from one of my favorite routines, my early morning hike, I decided to do something very spontaneous. I stopped outside a friend's house, called her, asked her if she was home, and said I wanted to give her a hug. She asked me three times if I was really parked outside, then she told me three times that she was still in her pajamas but she would love a hug!

This is a good time to come up with the second list of "my secrets of adulthood". 

I wrote my first list over a year ago, simply called "My Secrets of Adulthood" and talked about my inspiration. That list is still true, and I am now adding a few more to that list.

I will kick it off with one from the previous list:

What you do every day matters more than what you do once in while (from Rubin's list)

You can love structure and still succeed in ambiguous situations

Routines are important, and if you can't think of one, brushing your teeth counts 

Drinking half a bottle of wine the night before an eight mile hike is perfectly okay
A regular message that makes you laugh is more valuable than an occasional dinner
It's okay to love Facebook and Instagram
Giving someone a second chance may sometimes help you survive

And to end, a quote from my favorite television personality -

"The best defense against bullshit is vigilance. If you smell something, say something" - Jon Stewart