Holidays + Occasions
It’s Time to Redefine ‘Luxury’
Saturday, January 21, 2023
A little over a year ago, I quit my job. A job that was very far from perfect but which in many ways I loved, poured my heart into, and talked about endlessly to whoever would listen.
I was physically, emotionally, and mentally drained. I wasn’t sleeping. I wasn’t getting movement. I wasn’t inspired, and I wasn’t nourished. I wasn’t showing up for the people I love. And because of extreme burnout, I was seriously depressed. I had completely lost sight of the things that made me happy. Not only did I not recognize myself; I didn’t even recognize the life I was living.
During that time, I’d dream about two-week vacations at luxurious resorts on the beach. I would spend a lot of money at expensive restaurants, and splurge on manicures, massages, and facials. I’d spend money really impulsively – sometimes on things I actually got use out of, loved, or needed, but often not.
Now, I’m not knocking any of those things. Vacations and good meals are fabulous, and there’s nothing wrong with spending money on yourself. But what I realize now is that at the time, what I was really seeking was a sense of wholeness. I wanted to feel good. And I think I was so deep in my burnout that I couldn’t think beyond small “hits”, or very short-lived forms of relief from my stress.
For so many of us, when we think of the word, “luxury,” we think of something expensive. It’s defined that way, after all. Look up “luxury” in the Oxford Dictionary and you’ll find it defined as “the state of great comfort and extravagant living.” The word “extravagant” is actually underlined!
But, why can’t we define luxury on our own terms? Why can’t we pursue luxury – which I think is really about feeling good – without the extravagance? Without spending lots of money?
We can.
The truth is, experiencing luxury doesn’t have to only happen when we’re on vacation, or when we get massages or buy something expensive. While it certainly can be something we spend money on, it’s not just for the super wealthy, it’s for everyone. It’s not lavish, it’s simple. Easy. Something we can do every day. It’s whatever we want it to be.
Today, for me, luxury is eight hours of deep sleep. It’s cultivating a life that may not be perfect, but which nourishes me from the inside out. It’s a truly great cup of coffee. It’s sweating every day. Luxury is being proud of myself at the end of each day. It’s a good book. Really good bedding. Luxury is having fresh flowers in my home. Luxury is going to my local farmer’s market and cooking myself a nourishing meal with what I find. Luxury is making someone I love feel loved. Luxury is whatever feels good to me in whatever moment I’m in.
How can we all bring more of it into our lives?
One, and most importantly, we prioritize our mental health. We practice examining how we really feel – about our jobs, our day to day lives, about our experiences, good and especially bad, about our relationships, and above all, about ourselves. We take a good, hard look at the difficulties we’ve experienced in life – big and small – and finally decide we’re going to work through it. We care for our mental health in whatever ways work for us. I really believe this is foundational.
Two, we get disciplined. Whether it’s yoga, cooking, meditation, or reading, it’s safe to say that we all have practices that sustain us and give us life. And I say this as much to myself as to you – why is it so hard for us to make the time for those practices and stick with them? This year, I’d like to be uncompromising when it comes to the practices that make me feel like me. I hope the same for you.
Three, we spend our money on things that actually serve us and bring us joy. One thing I have learned about myself is that I love beautiful things. I love surrounding myself with beautifully made furniture and decor. I love jewelry. I love art. And I looove flowers. Whether I pass by them in a neighbor’s garden or I have cut flowers in my own home, there are very few things that bring me as much joy. I think we all have some sense of what those things are for each of us. I’ve decided I’m no longer going to view those things as frivolous.
If you’re reading this, I think I can safely assume that flowers are kind of your thing, too. So you might be as excited as I am about the aptly named Luxe Collection we’re launching today at BloomsyBox.
For us, right now luxury is sourcing our very favorite varieties of flowers, you know, the extra special blooms that might cost a little more, but are more than worth it. It’s why we decided to create our Luxe Collection, which is full of the most unique and breathtaking flowers our farms have to offer.
Luxe Collection
With this collection, we set out to source the flowers that spark joy for us and which you don’t always see every day, from anemones to ranunculus to garden roses, and more. We wanted to bring you the varieties of flowers that are our personal favorites, and make the bouquets extra B-I-G and abundant with stem counts ranging from 36-50 (fifty!) stems.
We knew we wanted to call it our Luxe Collection because, well, in all honesty, it is, but the word “luxe” didn’t really sit well. Why? Because while we know our flowers cost money, we at BloomsyBox don’t tend to look at our products as what you might normally call “a luxury.” Particularly if you appreciate flowers as much as we do. So, we thought it’d be a good time to redefine what luxury means to us. And hopefully for you, too.
And whether flowers spark real joy for you, or not, I hope you find the space to “go luxe,” or bring true luxury into your life this year, too. We’ll be cheering you on in spirit.
Posted by Neda Habibi at 21/01/2023
