It was a beautiful morning when I opened the front door and ventured out to buy the paper earlier. So beautiful in fact, that I decided I should breathe in the fresh air and stretch my legs and so opted to walk to the newsagent’s. That might not seem much of a feat, but I am known as the Woman Who Drives Everywhere. It’s surprising how a little walk can cheer you up, not to mention make you feel self-satisfied! But it DID make me feel better; it lifted my mood and the sunshine and the spring flowers poking through the gardens put a smile on my face. And so – it was worth it.
I have been consciously working on worth it as in Because I’m Worth It for a while now. It’s a concept that I’ve struggled with for most of my life, always feeling that I’ve had to justify whatever I’ve spent on myself or things I’ve done for myself to other people. Of course, I didn’t have to, I just, mistakenly, thought that I did and that was because I allowed other people’s opinions on what I was doing to matter. But now I know that life is meant to be full of treats and happiness and that taking the BIWI attitude is investing in yourself and as a consequence, improving your quality of life. Other people, however well-meaning, cannot tell you how you should live.
It took a while though, for me to see that. But now I have, I consciously take little steps to improve the quality of my life or my own self-esteem. This has led to me using my airmiles to upgrade to Upper Class several times. Worth it? You bet!
I think someone’s hands say so much about them as they’re always on show, so I now have regular manicures. I also have pedicures, because even if I’m wearing filled-in shoes, I know that my feet are pretty underneath. It’s on a par with always wearing my nice underwear. Worth it? Oh yes!
I have wavy hair, which has always been the bane of my life. As I’m now wearing it straight, washing and blow-drying it has become a chore; my arms kill me after five minutes of holding the dryer up. So every now and again I go and have it washed and blow-dried in a local salon where in the space of about 35 minutes the stylist gets it looking better than I ever can; smooth, sleek, classy. One such day was last Friday, which meant I could go and meet up with my lovely friend L from my days at HSFC, and then another lovely friend M, who I met when we were both in the Ladykillers last year, and then onto my session at AST looking, reasonably good. Worth it? Every penny!
For the last few years I’ve slept in silk bedding – silk NOT satin! It’s glorious! Keeps you warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot. It’s like going to sleep in a comfy cocoon and I love it. Worth it! Worth it! Worth it!
One little luxury I’ve always allowed myself is that of having a cleaner. I first had one when the Daughter was little. I worked long, long days, including Saturday mornings and the only real time we had together was Sunday, and this precious opportunity was being lost because I had to spend the whole day cleaning. It was absolute freedom! To have Sundays to spend quality time with my darling Daughter and to come home twice a week to a house that was sparkling, clean and fresh was a God-send. And I could, smugly, tell myself that I was helping out another woman at the same time by giving her the chance to earn some money. This is something I’ve continued to do all my life whenever I possibly could. Worth it? A thousand times YES!
Today, having had my little walk, read the paper and supplements from cover to cover, I’m now writing this with Elaine Paige on Sunday playing in the background, dinner cooking and plans to spend the rest of the day watching TV. A chilled-out, switched-off, relaxing day (let me hear you say it loud and proud) BECAUSE I’M WORTH IT!
I agree entirely Elaine, we are so worth it! If we don’t spoil and pamper ourselves then who else will do it? I spent so many years scrimping and saving. So now I am mortgage free I treat myself when I can. I am so worth it! Xx
That’s good to hear. I always buy the best – ie softest usually aloe vera – toilet paper too!
Good for you Elaine – I’m still at the “trying to justify everything” stage at the moment, but hopefully my time will come x
Well done Elaine, Im so glad you have reached the “Im worth it” stage in life, it must be a 40+ element of life because I didnt reach it until I hit 45. I Love Egyptia cotton sheets, getting my hair done, my nails manicured and yep my feet pedicured, treating myself to an expensive perfume, bottle of brandy and because I love music a “top of the range surround sound TV and stereo system”, next on my list is a new Wolf Kitchen, just for me, I love to cook and Im worth it, every single penny. We should not justisy ourselves to others, nor be ashamed, we are worth it, you are absolutely right.
Hear hear to Debbies’ post ! it takes a while tho’ but least we have realised it…
Great to read your feedback! Come on Joanne! Debbie, Wendy, Sue and I outnumber you four to one!! We are worth it!!