“I am convinced that there can be luxury in simplicity“
I’m not a fan of reality T.V. but I recently watched an episode of the Netflix series Bling Empire. It follows the wealthiest Asian families living in L.A. ; like the movie Crazy Rich Asians. The excessive spending and the accessibility to any material possession you can possibly imagine got me thinking about what Luxury truly means. To some it means owning expensive jewelry or cars. To others it may mean being in good health. It’s completely subjective.
Luxury to me is not only in things but in experiences that make me feel joyful, uplifted, authentic and peaceful and although the meaning of Luxury reads :
lux·u·ry
noun
- the state of great comfort and extravagant living.”he lived a life of luxury”-Opposite:austeritypoverty
- an inessential, desirable item which is expensive or difficult to obtain.
I consider the following to be luxuries I value most:
The Luxury of Time Alone
I love spending time with my husband and family but there are things that are best experienced alone: A silent walk in nature, A long Yoga session. Losing yourself in a good book or watching a movie only you enjoy (like cheesy Hallmark movies). I chose not to have children because I treasure time alone more and it’s something I need. Time alone is a must for everyone. Doing something just for ourselves nourishes the soul and improves our mental health. I recently took a Mental Health Day and spent the day walking in the forest, cooking a recipe I’d been wanting to try , reading books and took a long Aromatherapy Bath. When my husband got home later that evening, I was relaxed and contented. I was excited to spend the rest of the evening enjoying each other’s company and it created space for great conversation about our day
“Spend time alone to rediscover your true self”
The Luxury of Indulging The Senses
As an Aromatherapist, scent is once of my strongest senses. The scent of cedar in the forest, the scent of comforting food cooking in the kitchen. Rain soaked pavement, rain soaked earth. It’s deeply luxurious to wrap yourself in scents that are appealing to you. I always have a candle burning at home. Right now, in the Spring it’s a Lilac Blossom Candle that smells just like fresh lilacs. One way I like to indulge the senses is by having a spa night which starts with an Aromatherapy Bath, a face and hair mask. Some of my favourite essential oils to use are Sage, Marjoram, Rosewood and Frankincense. Scents we love invite us to breathe deeply, breathe slowly; and isn’t luxury precisely “A state of great comfort”?
The Luxury of Enjoying Hobbies
Practicing a hobby is the best way to truly be present, away from the “real world”, news, television, the internet. To get lost in playing the piano, learning about gardening, soap or candle making is my way to spend time. If it’s a rainy day (and we get many on the Pacific Coast ), I spend at least a few hours in between chores or cooking, enjoying a hobby. I find doing something leisurely like a hobby much more enjoyable than laying on the couch vegging. It’s important to lean new skills or hone in on one we already know. I personally feel uplifted accomplishing tasks and exercising my brain. How ’bout you? what are your hobbies?
The Luxury Of Good Food
We all love to eat right? Right now, as I write, I’m eating the sweetest grapes and they not only taste delicious but they taste healthy – like they’re doing me good. Oh I love my sweets and carbs (and Prossecco) but something about food that comes directly from nature makes every cell in my body come alive. It’s such a different sensation to eat a cooked meal as opposed to a raw vegetable or fresh fruit. Something about eating fresh vegetables or fruit feels luxurious to me. Forget the five star restaurant, pass the freshly picked kale!
The Luxury of A Tidy Home
This one’s simple but regardless of how much one owns, having a tidy home gives me the mental space to be more productive. Once a week I do a complete deep clean of my home, everything gets moved, dusted, wiped, laundered and rearranged. Call me neurotic but in my mind, if my house is messy or cluttered I don’t have time to exercise or sit and write. Once the house is clean and the plants are watered (lol) I feel like I have permission to enjoy, relax and get creative.
The Luxury Of Sleep
I am not a morning person and when I hear people say they have to get up at 5am to go to work, my entire being gives a resounding NO. Obviously I realize many people don’t have the choice because, well, in this society, money is what makes the world go ’round. I’ve mostly worked in the Health & Spa industries for the past 20 years and one good thing about that is most don’t open until 10-11am and I so appreciate that because I actually feel physically ill trying to down any kind of food early in the morning. I make it a point to create a ritual around sleep and get a good 8-10 hours every night. Before bed I make sure pillows are fluffed, sheets are taut (I’m neurotic remember?), a good spritz of lavender essential oil on the bed and gentle music or rain sounds lull me to sleep each night. A good long sleep is the best kind of luxury to me.
What do you find luxurious? Maybe its’s the feeling of wearing your favourite sweater or spending time cuddling a pet. Luxury is in each detail.
Thank you for joining me today. If you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to subscribe to my blog and join me over on Instagram @ BellWitchManor
If you feel so inclined to buy me a hot chocolate so that I can continue to create content like this, you can do so here.
Love,
Jennifer