Everyday Quirks

The Weird Rules We Make for Ourselves

The Weird Rules We Make for Ourselves
Quirky little habits that make perfect sense... to us.



We all have them — those weird little life rules that don’t make a whole lot of sense to anyone else, but feel totally normal to us. They’re not written down anywhere. No one announced them at a family meeting. They just… appeared. And once they do, they stick.

The funny thing is, these invisible rules show up in nearly every part of life — our homes, our kitchens, our routines, even the way we interact with strangers. It’s one of those quirks that makes us human. So today, I’m calling them out. Because if we can’t laugh at our own strange little systems, what’s the point?


 Household Quirks We All Pretend Are Normal


Household Quirks We All Pretend Are Normal


Every home has its own set of sacred objects. The “good” scissors — not the ones for opening snack bags, but the sharp pair reserved for gift wrap or crafts... and then there's the pair that's for fabric ONLY. The mug you reach for every morning, even though you have ten others in the cupboard. The chair or spot on the couch that’s unofficially reserved. Everyone knows it’s yours, even if there’s no name tag.

And let’s not forget the “good” blanket. You know the one — it’s folded neatly on the back of the couch and looks cozy, but heaven forbid it actually gets used. These rules don’t have to make sense. They just are.



 Food Rules That Somehow Become Law

Food Rules That Somehow Become Law


The kitchen is full of invisible boundaries. Leftovers, for example. They may sit in the fridge unguarded, but deep down, we all know if something’s been mentally “claimed,” it’s off-limits.

Then there’s the one condiment you can’t live without. Maybe it’s ketchup, hot sauce, or ranch dressing — whatever it is, running out feels like a small crisis. And some people (no judgment here) eat things in a very particular order. M&Ms by color. Fries before the burger. Pizza crust last. It’s less about logic and more about ritual.

I’ve even met people who have rules about pasta — never break spaghetti in half, ever. Meanwhile, others swear by breaking it. Neither side is wrong, but both will argue like it’s a matter of international law.


 Daily Routines with a Side of Ritual


Daily Routines with a Side of Ritual


Routines might be where our weird rules shine the brightest. The “right” way to fold laundry — even if no one else will ever see it. The dishwasher loaded in a very particular pattern. The sequence of your morning routine: shower, skincare, breakfast, in that exact order or the whole day feels off.

TV time comes with its own quirks too. Some shows are “background noise” while you do chores. Others are reserved for sitting down and paying attention. And heaven help the person who messes with the remote and doesn’t put things back the way they were.


 Social Rules We Don’t Talk About


Social Rules We Don’t Talk About


These are the silent agreements we all live by. The armrest at the movie theater — you get one, not both. Parking in “your spot,” even though no one has a deed to it.

Then there’s grocery store etiquette: once you’ve chosen your checkout line, you’re committed. Switch lines and you’re basically inviting the universe to punish you with an even longer wait.
Or think about the unwritten rules of neighborhoods. You wave to your neighbor every time you pass, even if you’ve already waved three times that day. It’s not optional. It’s just what you do.


 Why We Make These Weird Rules


Why We Make These Weird Rules


So why do we create these random little systems for ourselves? I think it’s part comfort, part control, and part personality. They’re tiny rituals that give life a sense of order. They make our homes feel like ours and our days feel familiar, even when everything else is a little unpredictable.

And here’s the thing — these quirks aren’t silly. They’re what make us unique, and they’re also what connect us. Because once you start talking about them, you realize everyone has their own version.

So tell me: what’s one weird rule you live by that probably makes no sense on paper, but feels completely normal in your world?











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✨ My blog exists because I know what it feels like to keep everything jumbled in your head — like a messy pile of clothes you can’t sort through.
 Writing it all down brings clarity, calm, and sometimes even healing answers I didn’t know I was looking for.

Honestly, that’s why I keep showing up to write — it helps me make sense of things. 

 Even if you have no intentions of ever publishing your work, I highly recommend writing stuff down. It doesn't have to be a literary masterpiece or even full, grammatically correct sentences... just dump those random thoughts onto paper... you'll see what I mean.

*This blog centers the GenX experience, simply because that’s the lens I live through—but anyone looking for connection, natural wellness, grief support, or a little real-talk in this messy stage of life is more than welcome.

✨ My blog exists because I know what it feels like to keep everything jumbled in your head — like a messy pile of clothes you can’t sort through.

 Writing it all down brings clarity, calm, and sometimes even healing answers I didn’t know I was looking for.


Honestly, that’s why I keep showing up to write — it helps me make sense of things. 

 Even if you have no intentions of ever publishing your work, I highly recommend writing stuff down. It doesn't have to be a literary masterpiece or even full, grammatically correct sentences... just dump those random thoughts onto paper... you'll see what I mean.

*This blog centers the GenX experience, simply because that’s the lens I live through—but anyone looking for connection, natural wellness, grief support, or a little real-talk in this messy stage of life is more than welcome.

Hi! I'm AJ Flanagan.

 
Hey there — I’m AJ.

I’m an empty-nester and a widow who had a wake-up call about the hidden toxins in everyday products most of us grew up using. Our parents didn’t know. We didn’t know either. But once you start paying attention, it’s hard to ignore.

Life shifted in 2018 when my husband, Eric, was diagnosed with leukemia — and again in 2023 when we faced a second cancer diagnosis. Supporting him through treatment changed how we looked at just about everything, including how we cared for our home, our bodies, and our day-to-day routines.
We didn’t aim for perfection or extremes. We focused on simple, meaningful changes — reducing toxic load in our home, choosing better ingredients, prioritizing nourishing food, and building calmer rhythms into daily life. Tools like aromatherapy, music, meditation, and intentional rest became part of how we coped and stayed grounded.

Caring for Eric deepened my commitment to living well — not as a trend, but as a way of showing up with intention and grace, even in the hard seasons.

Now I share our story, the lessons we learned, the small changes that made a big difference, and how I'm moving forward. My hope is to make wellness feel more approachable, less overwhelming, and rooted in real life — especially for anyone who wants healthier options without pressure or perfection.

If you’re here to find what actually works for you, you’re in the right place.

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