Luxuries

We all like the thought of having luxuries in our lives, I surely do, and I believe we all deserve the luxuries we desire; although some people determine luxuries in different ways.

Most probably think of them as designer clothing, jewelry, shoes and handbags, palatial homes, prestige cars, first-class travel and vacations to the best resorts and other such things that are all nice things to have if one can afford them, however I feel true luxuries are much easier to come by and are much more valuable than those things.

I spent a quiet day by myself a few days ago and was working through what I felt were true luxuries in my life trying to make the list as short as possible and as relevant and honest as I could. The list doesn't make up all the things I want to get out of life but I think are a good representation of what I feel are true luxuries and knowing the list means I'm able to think about them and feel gratitude for them.

Time - A person's most valuable possession I think and the one most people squander. Having the luxury of time is first on my list because with the luxury of time I'm able to engage with my life and the important things in it.

Health - This is probably a common one to most of us but I believe people also take it for granted. We rarely take the time to feel grateful for good health until we don't have it. This is high on my list of true luxuries because it's such a precious thing.

Good people - I'm not talking generally, I'm talking about the specific people who feel like home to me. There's only a select few but I value them so greatly, cherish and nurture them.

A peaceful mind - I often work towards finding inner-stillness, a peace of mind that seeps down into me, as that's a nice base platform for the rest of my life to build upon. It's a luxury to have that peace of mind and it's value is immeasurable.

Travel - This is a financial luxury as it can be so costly, but it is an aspect of my life that has brought so much value and happiness and it's happiness that helps the rest of my life to balance out - a state of being I actively work for.

Restful sleep - I'm lucky to be a good sleeper however have had times in which sleep was difficult to find or didn't provide the solace and deep restfulness it is supposed to. I got through those times, but they have made me learn the value and luxury of restful sleep.

Good food - I'll admit to not being a 'foodie' although I enjoy it and have some favorites. For me, it's about the company and setting as much as it is the food: Sharing basic food with my guy, a basic spaghetti at a cafe beside Lago di Como, a baguette in the Tuileries gardens of Paris, a little picnic in the countryside with that man of mine and other such things. It's the setting and company that make food a luxury, not that it was made by an expert chef.

Music - I like being 'moved' by music and it doesn't matter where it comes from who who made it, if I feel it inside me then it's something beautiful and I think music that moves me is a true luxury.