"I'm saving it for a special occasion".
How many times have you heard that in your life?
How many times have you said that?
What is the special occasion you're saving it for?
What if that special occasion never comes?
A nice candle.
The aromatic shampoo and conditioner that makes your hair soft, shiny, yet full of body (how do they do it?!).
The amazing wine you were gifted just sits locked away for who knows how many years.
You buy nice towels for the guests to use... but what are your towels like?
You deserve to enjoy these things on any day you choose to.
It doesn't have to be a 'special' day.
Any day is special.
Did you know that perfumes go bad or lose potency after a while?
Hair Products, Skincare products, Makeup (Yea... I know way too many of you that have held on to make up for far too long - it expires and can make you ill, cause irritation, or infections), Spices, Oils, and Coffee too!
From the moment you open any of these products, you have anywhere from 6 months to 1 year (Some can be up to 24 months - typically powders) to use them before they've lost potency, or worse, they expire or go rancid.
I recently discovered that a client of mine had the same can of hairspray for over 10 years.
She never wanted to use it because it was 'the good' hair spray - only used for special occasions. She also did this with a lipstick (she threw it away after I saw it!)... And basically everything.
This was a learned behavior from her mother.
This is a learned behavior for a lot of us!
These items or experiences are not sacred. They exist for our use and enjoyment!
She let me throw the old hairspray away and is now using better hair spray - actually USING it!
I have put together reasonable skincare suggestions (with one or two luxury items) and she has begun a skincare routine.
She is worth taking care of. She is worthy of nice things. We all are.
We will be making a Sephora trip in the next few months and I will help her find things that are worth saving on and worth spending on.
I will also be making her aware of the expiration dates on these things!
They are used, enjoyed, and can be purchased again and again.
Or better yet - great gifts for people to get you!
I would rarely buy a candle because I felt like I was burning money.
The thing is - I enjoy candles. I enjoy the fragrance they fill a room with.
I enjoy the feelings or memories that a particular fragrance can bring rushing back.
I enjoy the ambiance the candle creates in a room.
The beautiful golden lighting can warm a bad day.
Not only have I started burning candles, but I have started making them.
I enjoy burning them on any given day and much more frequently than I ever have before.
CoachLight Spa (my fave!) is an amazing spa in the West Des Moines area .
I had only been once before, years ago, and that was to use their amenities ($30) for a few hours.
The amenities consist of cycling between a Himalayan salt sauna, Eucalyptus steam room, and a temperature-controlled (by you!) rain shower.
Last May, for my birthday, my very best friend gifted me a gift certificate to CoachLight Spa.
I wasn't in the space to use it for a few months, so I saved it till just recently.
*Just a side note- be sure to always check expiration dates on gift cards too! MANY expire one year from the date of purchase! Another reason not to delay simple pleasures*
I have a lovely friend who is an amazing esthetician at CoachLight (Hi Megan! - I HIGHLY recommend her).
I still had not been to see her at work.
In January I finally scheduled a facial with her.
I showed up an hour early before my scheduled appointment and used the amenities (a must!).
I was then whisked off to the most luxurious facial room I have ever seen (or smelled!).
Every detail is thought through at this place.
Your body is cradled on the most comfortable bed with a bed warmer, amazingly cozy blankets, the room was fragrant (the perfect amount!), with the most intoxicating and relaxing essential oil.
I was treated to the most amazing facial (with a mini neck, hand, and foot massage!) I could ever imagine.
I had always been of the mindset that "I'm trained in this stuff - I'll just do it myself at home".
I'm here to tell you, I was wrong.
So wrong.
But I was wrong with glowing skin and ultimate relaxation!
It's not that I am uneducated and can't give myself a facial.
It's that... this was so next level.
I truly can not tell you the last time I felt that level of care.
Once my amazing facial was done, I was back in this luxurious locker room (seriously - they think of everything) asking myself why I waited so long to do this.
I thought: "I feel lighter. I feel so rejuvenated, I feel special.... I must do this again".
I vowed to myself that I will make sure I do that twice a year (hopefully more!).
I deserve that care.
YOU deserve that care - if that is what brings you joy.
These 'little' things are the small reprieve we can take solace in.
After that facial, was the best I had truly felt in over a year.
The things you're 'saving for a special occasion' will likely sit there for years.
You end up seldom using them - the products, the ingredients, the dishes, the clothing, the shoes, the nice lipstick, the nice bag you only use for special outings.
We just look at them longingly for the 'special' day you'll get to use them - knowing that when you do use them, they give you a little boost of confidence that day.
Normalize luxuries - big and small - in your life.
Suffering is not an accomplishment or a reason to deny yourself.
I'm certainly not saying to overindulge constantly, always buy the best of everything, or spend frivolously. I'm all for saving and being wise with money,
but you also can't take your money with you when you die.
These things and experiences enhance our lives and memories - oftentimes, they will likely bring lovely memories rushing back.
Use the fancy soap.
Use the nice towels on yourself.
Buy yourself nice sheets.
Drink the wine (or champagne! whatever appeals to you!).
Drink the good coffee.
Eat the fancy chocolate.
Burn the candle.
Get your hair done - soak in the scalp massage.
Enjoy every second of a facial or spa experience.
Enjoy your experiences.
I know we hear this a lot - but tomorrow truly is not promised.
Enjoy the small things - because they are the big things.
If you ever receive a gift from me - I want you to use it or consume it.
You know I'll gift 'the good stuff'!
I want you to fully enjoy it on any and all random days you choose to.
Not waiting for a special occasion or day that may or may not come.
Today is the special occasion.