Or, for you Parks and Rec fans, “Treat yo self!”
But that’s not the quote I want to start today’s Positive Note with. This one is:
“He is richest who is content with the least.” – Socrates
I love this quote because it reminds me that I don’t always have to be striving for more. I’m allowed to rest, relax, and enjoy life as it is, no matter what my subconscious has to say about it.
That’s not an argument against ambition, or against wanting better for ourselves. It’s a reminder that the race to riches has no finish line. It can go on forever, so we need to balance our ambition with taking a moment to enjoy where we are right now. Leaving this world wealthy but without fulfilling relationships or experiences is no kind of wealth at all.
As good as contentment is, there’s also nothing wrong with treating ourselves. Most of us don’t live lavishly, but we all have that one thing we splurge on now and then. Maybe it’s a night out, a new pair of shoes, or an old vinyl record for the collection. For me, it’s usually food, though I’ll spare you the full list of strange things I enjoy eating. Though in my defense, my heritage is mostly South Texan and Germanic, so I never had much choice in the matter.
Whatever your treat is, you don’t get it all the time, and that’s part of what makes it special. The key word is balance. Get the thing you want every day and it loses its magic. I don’t know anyone who could eat their favorite food for every meal. But it’s still important to treat ourselves simply because. Not as a reward for all our hard work, but for the sake of the treat itself. We’re allowed that, guilt free.
So find the balance. Be content with what you have, keep working toward something better, and don’t forget to treat yourself. It’s as simple as it is confusing, right? That’s the normal human experience, I hear. 🙂
So, what’s your special, guilt-free treat? Whatever it is, I hope you treat yourself soon.
Warm regards,
Jimerson Adkins
P.S. If you know any good rain dances, now is not the time to be shy!