Treat Yourself Like Royalty

A Few Simple Activities Performed Daily Makes a Difference - Sometimes we just have to take control - and give ourselves what we often rely on others to provide.

I finished my two morning cups of coffee on an eerily quiet election day morning. The TV is off, the wind is howling on a cool, sunny autumn day in New England, and I am enjoying the serenity of the moment. I washed the mug, placed it on the Keurig coffee maker next to the sugar and spoon I tactfully placed next to the mug alongside a Keurig K-Cup Pod... ready for tomorrow.

The set up is as fancy as you'd see in an upscale hotel suite.

Mindfulness is a powerful reminder of what we are capable of

I like turn-down bed service with a chocolate on my pillow. Though I haven't been in a hotel room since last February, I get turn-down service every night. Because I gift this to myself.

We can make ourselves feel special at any time if we decide to. For instance, I enjoy a healing massage every so often, but since COVID, I've had zero massages. But I did purchase a powerful shower massaging head ($29) and a seat massager ($59) and can get a massage every day. Not a perfect 10... but a 7 out of 10 will do just fine for now (especially with a glass of wine).

What can you do for yourself to feel special during chaotic times?

1) First you have to want to feel special and want to create special moments. (Duh, but you'd be surprised how many people don't want to feel special).

2) Start with just one or two things and see where it leads you. For instance, pre-COVID, I enjoyed happy hour a couple of days a week with friends. Now, we schedule a couple of Zoom happy hours a week and make the best of what COVID allows us to do at this time.

3) Feel it, just don't do it. A candlelight dinner with a nice bottle of wine... even if you live alone. Why not? When was the last time you really dressed up, put on makeup as though you were going to a prom or, like in my case, even shaved?

What do you like that you're unable to experience at this time?

And what can you do instead? For example, I used to visit my health club every day to exercise, use the steam room, and enjoy social time. I haven't been to the health club since last February.

But for under $300, I purchased a quality stationary bike, and when done with my daily workout, I hit my shower and blast the hot water so my bathroom becomes a sauna / steam-room. I was paying $110 a month for the health club membership - so now I get my exercise and steam at home - while saving that $110 a month.

No, not ideal. But not bad either.

Someone once said that "we're only as happy as we make up our minds to be."

I challenge all of us to be as creative and joyful as we want to be, because it really is "all up to us."