I’ve been talking a fair bit about editing my life lately. In fits and starts, I’ve been decluttering and downsizing. But in the process, a theme has emerged.
If you read my chapter in The Power Within, you may have picked up on the fact that my mom was a bit of a packrat. Although you wouldn’t have to fill a half dozen huge dumpsters of stuff from my apartment, I did notice that I’ve developed a “save this for later” habit. Perfume. Jewelry. Clothes and undergarments that I like wearing and feel good in. Matcha tea. Paid time off. These are all some of the nicer things I’ve got but never wear or use because I’m saving them for a special occasion.
And then it occurred to me.
Getting up every morning and being alive is pretty fucking special.
So, I’m wearing the clothes, the cute underwear, the perfume, and the jewelry, even if it’s just to sit at my desk and work or go to PetSmart for cat food. I’m taking my PTO. And during these cool winter days, I’m enjoying my matcha lattes while I walk around the pond (and using the matcha powder to make delicious cookies).
I don’t want to pack this stuff if/when I move and I don’t want it to sit around until it goes stale or bad or gets moth eaten and I have to throw it out. And I sure as hell don’t want to lose the “use it or lose it” part of my PTO. Life is too short and too fragile to wait for a special occasion that may or may not come.
Or, looking at it a different way: I AM the special occasion.
And so are you. So quit saving your “nice” stuff. Spoil yourself a little today. Please.
