The New York Times has a tantalizing article headline on tiny treats you can enjoy every day. But without a paid subscription I have no access. So let's go find some of our own.
My own version of the idea is that when you create your experiences every day to include things that give you "joy" and pleasure, then a more fulfilling life will be yours.
But that's not what I am finding. The motivation in the articles is being frugal and financially responsible. The little everyday habits that make people "feel rich" without breaking the bank. Here's one:
"Using good ingredients. I am frugal, but I prioritize good ingredients. I always have heavy whipping cream on hand. Real butter. Good quality meat in the freezer. I buy good spices/herbs. I try to buy quality products and ingredients. I am not a 'luxury' person per se. I like just living a simple life. But little things like that are nice."
Did you consider that whipping cream and butter are luxuries? I consider them something to use sparingly, given the fat content, but they don't seem luxuries to me.
So here are more ideas from the various articles:
"opening a window to listen to the rain pouring" "using herbs from my perennial herb gardens" "clean kitchen with nice smelling candle lit" "giving the car a small makeover" "getting an electric blanket" "fresh flowers" "pretty note cards" "perfumed soaps"
I don't know - don't these things start to seem coy and cute? On one list was "write down three things you're grateful for each day".
I don't know what I was thinking on this topic. Our social life is now complicated. I think that the longing to be rich is very real for most people. Being frugal is just another aspect of having money and wealth, and implicit is spending money.
And I expect it might be more subliminal. Surveys show that being wealthy finished last in surveys on what people valued most. Having enough free time to do things one wanted, being successful in a career and similar things were more important. Don't these take money or produce money? It seems to me that money plays out in endless ways in our lives.
So I'll just have to wait to see what the New York Times Style writers come up with, when the paper comes my way later in the week.
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