Enjoying Luxury
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
United States
March 5, 2009 8:44pm CST
One of the things that has been on my mind lately is this notion that we must some how live without in order to survive. That we must somehow not enjoy life, and worry that what we have will not be enough.
This seems to be a very sad existence. It seems to do just the opposite. When our thoughts are constantly on what we don't have or think we don't have, on what we want, we enjoy the very existence of life. We miss the luxury that we have and can have on a daily basis. We also then manifest a very real "empty cubbard" so to speak.
Geoffrey Beene wrote "Luxury need not have a price-comfort itself is a luxury".
The dangers of the modern "frugality movement" of the 90's as it was based on fear, the fear of not having enough. We then fall prey to becoming stingy souls as we fear that we won't have enough so we can't possibly share with our fellow beings. Even the Shakers enjoy not only simplicity but luxury. Their luxury comes in their divine food.
We can live within our means and still enjoy the luxury of life. For me, it is fresh flowers every pay day. It is fine china, a worthwhile investment. It is the hair conditioner I use that perhaps is a bit more pricey, but the smell of teatree oil can make all the world fade away. It is the silk hoisery enjoyed under my skirts. It is the lapis lazuli stones enjoyed in a necklace made by husband, and the amber piece worn in deepest love of my "Viking". It is the small extra spent to enjoy real "Tollhouse cookies" on a cold night with a cup of tea. It is the extra spent on real Matcha tea.
"Today, declare to the Universe that you are open to receiving all the abundance it's waiting patiently to bestow. Each day offers us the gift of being a special occasion if we can simply learn that as well as giving, it is blessed to receive with grace and a grateful heart"-Sarah Breathnach
What are you going to enjoy? What do you already enjoy?
5 people like this
7 responses
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
6 Mar 09
Some of the things I enjoy the most are not expensive like my favourite coffee, ok a little pricier than some but not too extravagant. My daily latte, a good book, a good film (it can be one taped from the TV)
The special gold ring that used to belong to my mother in law (she passed away last year) that one is truly priceless and not in a monetary sense.
For me certain moments are a luxury, like snuggling up with my little girl and cuddling my cats.
You can feel special with little treats every day. I won't skimp on certain little things because to do so would shut me off to all the abundance that is mine by Divine Right, what you give out will eventually come back to you so there is no need to be afraid of lack, there is plenty in the Universe for everyone. 
3 people like this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
6 Mar 09
Paula-
I definately like your luxury choices! And aren't cuddles just the best? And I hadn't thought of it as my Divine Right, so right on!! And yes, we need not be afraid..oh, sounds like something we might find in a Shakespeare play....Let us all enjoy.
Namaste-Anora
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
6 Mar 09
I enjoy my little home and my life. It's not a pretentious home but it's mine. I live out the back of nowhere and there is nothing to do but I love the tranquility and lack of a rat-race atmosphere prevalent even in large towns. Yesterday, I purchased nine (yes, nine...at an average price of about $3.00) DVDs because I have watched all mine over and over). I watch on my tiny personal player while lying snuggled into my lovely bed. I have watched 2 already, one was weird, Man On The Moon starring Jim Carey, the other was really good. It's called Personal Effects with unknown (to me anyway) actors.
My friend picks wildflowers while he is out in a paddock working. I have lilies and gum trees flowers in a vase in front of me as I type and the scent is wonderful. I have all my lovely things around me including a table full of family photos. I live a long way from my family. I have my beloved pets...a dog named Lucy and my cat, Banjo. I'm also blessed enough to share my home with 2 amazing goats, Pickles and Tulip.
Last night I shared a delicious rockmelon with my friend when he came to rub my poor feet. We had icecream with it too; he put sugar on his. During my shopping trip yesterday, I also purchased some Butter Brazil nuts. They are coated with white chocolate and a buttery toffee and they are heavenly and were on sale at a clearance sale in a discount store.
I am incredibly blessed and I send thanks everyday for my simple and at the same time luxurious life. Brightest Blessings~MsT
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
7 Mar 09
Ms. Tickle-
Oh yummy, Brazil nuts. They sound simply divine! It must be wonderful to be able to live in such an open area, away from the hustle and bustle of town. And wildflowers! What a treat!!! I've not heard of rockmelon though, you'll have to share with me what that is exactly. Many blessings to you on your luxury!!
Namaste-Anora
1 person likes this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
7 Mar 09
Ahhh. Yep, we eat quite a bit of that especially during the summer time when the farmer's market is open.
2 people like this
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
22 Apr 09
I realize that it is very challenging these days to enjoy life especially without some of the luxuries that you might have been used to having. I know that I have to do without and I worry about food being put on the table.
I am living in a one income family. I am a stay at home mother and it is a struggle.
I can appreciate the way you are looking at things though. Sometimes we can take life for granted and not count the blessings that we might have.
When you ask what I am going to enjoy life well then I think I will choose to be happy in the moment, be grateful that I have my son and that he is healthy.
Enjoying a nice hot cup of tea or coffee and relaxing without doing any chores for a while is a great idea.
Even going outside into the beautiful sunlight and seeing the pretty grass and trees is an option. And it doesn't cost a thing does it?
2 people like this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Kelly-
I'm sorry it took me a day to get to to your response. (Mommy duties lol). I'm so glad you have found that great luxary. You and I are in very similar situations. I do go to graduate school, but I'm a stay at home mommy, and we live on one income. It's very tight most months, but I've been forcing myself for many years to work on this Simple Abundance Philosophy. Ok, not so much force as that sounds just a bit harsh, but when I first came across the books I was like "This just makes sense". I mean, here I had been worrying myself for years about this and that, and I was missing many precious "Now" moments.
I do try to be proactive though. I practice Feng Shui, and I do a great deal in our wealth gua to attract monies and stability. (Nothing wrong with helping that part of our life along, you know).
Thank you so much for the response, it really made my day today!
Namaste-Anora
@oyenkai (4394)
• Philippines
27 Apr 09
I think I know EXACTLY what you mean when you say that there is this nagging feeling of having to survive at the expense of giving up life. In order to survive and to live comfortably, people need money and since money is hard to come by (especially this days, ESPECIALLY in my country where the standard of living is low) and that costs people time - it costs ME time. And I hold time preciously. I think that I might run out of time someday before I am able to go wherever I want to go, to see whatever I want to see because I'll never be able to afford the trips...
Thanks for the response on my discussion!
2 people like this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
28 Apr 09
Oyekai-
I know what you mean. I make the most of the things we do here. We go on walks, we visit the aquarium on each day off, we enjoy our time together as a family. We do a lot of things that don't require monies, and we focus on each other. I mean, after all that is who we'll see in the afterlife and the lives to come.
Thanks for your response. Namaste-Anora
@agrim94 (3805)
• India
16 May 09
Hi anora,
I love luxuries of live , big or small everything. I like fast cars if i can get my hand on it and everything that modern life can give us. They give a person a motivation to move forward and work to earn something which is always attracting him. if we say ok we dont want anything of the modern life then most business would stop and most people would loose jobs and we might go back to forests again. But the thing is earth has limited resources so we have to cut something but not everything and leave some for our future generations too because we dont own the fruits of the mother earth only we are gaurdian of it and take our pay by biting it one bite ( small one ) and leave rest for future generations ( man and every living thing) and i enjoy apart from cars, about simple things is chilled water in summers, hot tea in winters, i like clothes thought not necessary by big branded companies and i like my dog ( she is real luxury for me as to bring one pet in home i had to butter everyone in family a lot)
2 people like this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
20 May 09
Agrim-
Thank you so much for sharing. I like sportscars myself, but for now we've a sensible car. I agree with making sure we leave much for the futures to come. We must remember to enjoy, but leave luxury for those that come to enjoy. We have one cat, and she's definately our indulged animal. She's very spoiled.
Namaste-Anora
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
16 May 09
What a beautiful topic for a discussion! 
We don't have a lot of money, but there are some small luxuries we indulge in, such as Coca-Cola (the generic just won't do) and GOOD coffee - sometimes it isn't worth it to cheap for certain things. We also occasionally enjoy take-out food, like Chinese or Italian. No matter how tight things may be, allowng some simple pleasures makes life feel more like "living" rather than simply "surviving". Oh, and we won't do without pay TV (satellite here) because where I live there is no reception and we really enjoy watching it together. I'll scrimp and save and buy no-name brands whenever it makes sense to do so, but doing that allows us to enjoy some of the "luxury" stuff.
We don't have a lot of money, but there are some small luxuries we indulge in, such as Coca-Cola (the generic just won't do) and GOOD coffee - sometimes it isn't worth it to cheap for certain things. We also occasionally enjoy take-out food, like Chinese or Italian. No matter how tight things may be, allowng some simple pleasures makes life feel more like "living" rather than simply "surviving". Oh, and we won't do without pay TV (satellite here) because where I live there is no reception and we really enjoy watching it together. I'll scrimp and save and buy no-name brands whenever it makes sense to do so, but doing that allows us to enjoy some of the "luxury" stuff.2 people like this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
21 May 09
Kitty-
Thanks very much for responding. I agree, there are just some things that are worth spending a bit on. I pay for quality tea, because I really enjoy it. And we pay for basic cable to have our internet, something we honestly can't live without because of our schooling. I so adore Chinese food!!! Have a wonderful week and enjoy those luxaries.
Namaste-Anora
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
2 Jun 09
Of course you could take the opposite view, that we are too hedonistic, too into meaningless but pleasurable things in our society today. I think you can be frugal and still enjoy life. But I definitely don't believe in giving up all pleasurable things. What would be the point of even living if it were just a grind?
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
2 Jun 09
Dawn-
I would agree that we are indeed too into the material in most cultures, that our lives have become so capitalistic that many things have lost its meaning. This thread was written in conjunction with another one on what it means to be frugal and I don't think being frugal means being cheap. I think frugal is about making wise decisions. I might pay slightly more for let's say a quality blouse because it will last longer, that would be being frugal in my book.
That said, I think we do need to enjoy life more than some of us do. Some people get so caught up with the rat race-home to work to home and all over again that they never give themselves a chance to truly enjoy life. Thanks for your addition to the discussion.
Namaste-Anora
1 person likes this
