Life's Luxuries

I occasionally did walkabouts in my old office (just my way of telling everyone that this manager does exist). In one of those walkabouts I saw a Coach handbag on the chair of a junior staff. It's a genuine one of course. That bag definitely cost more than one grand, and that girl possibly has a take-home pay of RM2.5k....perhaps slightly over RM3k with OT. Rich parents? Maybe.

During the days when I started earning that kind of money, designer goods were something that I've never thought of having - more so when I had to save up for courses & exam fees. It did help that I'm not the shopping kind...till today retail therapy is not my kind of thing. I dread shopping for clothes & will only do so out of necessity.

I guess everyone has his/her own little luxuries - if others splurge on clothes, food, expensive hobbies etc, my weakness is skincare items.

Thanks to Mom (who wouldn't think twice about buying a RM500 jar of cream with her hairstylist pay - and this was like 20 yrs ago) who shortly before my 21st bday, freaked out at the sudden acne breakout that I had & dragged me to the nearest aesthetician for treatment. For the next few months I endured what was probably some of the most excruciatingly painful moments of my younger life. I was started on a skincare regime back then & 20 yrs on, I've moved from a clarifying/deep cleansing regime to a hydrating/lifting one. Nobody believed that I had a bad breakout before....so Mom had really done the right thing for me.

In fact I've now outdone Mom on the range of skincare that we each own. I wouldn't wanna put on print the amount of moolah that I've spent on skincare over the past 10 years...it's way too obscene an amount but to me, it's $$$ well spent.

My current aesthetician is probably the best advertiser I've ever met. She's touching 50 but has skin of someone hitting 30 - no kidding. It does help that she can afford to use copious amounts of her own products, and let me tell you - the tai-tai's & high flying clients of hers buy by the dozens.

The latest product that she (successfully) coaxed me into buying is this timed-release Vit C serum (we all know that Vit C is very volatile but the Japs have found a way of encapsulating it to last more than 2 yrs). Dubbed the Miracle fluid, it purportedly works up to 12 hours per application..... "increasing elasticity & firmness of skin", "lightening pigmentation", "creates a flawless skin texture", "revitalises tired skin" & possibly everything else you want your skin to look like - she claimed that it even worked on her boobs. One of her clients actually used it on her butt (????!!) and swore that it became firmer.

For something that cost me RM700 for a palm-sized 4-inch tall bottle (and I bought more than a few bottles), it had better work or else I'll sue her for product misrepresentation.

It's a miracle alright....how my credit card balance suddenly shot up by the thousands....

After a month's use I could see that those claims of flawless skin texture & revitalised skin were to a large extent true - all the 14-hour days that I've put in at work didn't make me look like an old hag.

In a society where looks are everything, could a luxury actually be a necessity?

Dedicated to All 41-year-olds :)

Betcha that the salsa posse at Little Havana will be none too pleased with my decision to stay home tonite as it will be the 3rd yr in a row that I'll escape the traditional bday ragging by them. I think it's good to veg out once in a while n have a conversation with...just myself. Not a sign of me going cuckoo but it's good to touch base with your inner self once in a while...even more significant when I reflect on my life for the past 41 yrs.

The last 20 yrs hasn't been entirely kind to me....I've had my fair share of bad bosses, glass ceiling jobs, bad relationships, bad exam results, misjudgements, family crisis, accidents, injuries n illnesses...but I've always believed that the Big-Boss-Up-There is fair - in return he gave me a strong mind, supportive parents, good friends & a wallet that is not always full but never empty.

Sometimes I feel that my fortunes are changing for the better - life works in cycles n when things can't go down any further, the only way they go is up. A few yrs ago I met a guy who studied Indian astrology. He told me that a person's life is already charted in the planets from the day he is born. He is destined to go thru different cycles/phases in life....by the mere movement n alignment of planets his fortunes will change. I'm beginning to see some logic in this concept.

There's no denying that age has a way of reminding me of its presence - particularly in the physical dept. Wrinkles, sags, cellulite, stretch marks, wobbly knees, bunions - but there's nothing that boosting creams, push-up bras n a good reflexologist can't help with :p. In return I've gained wisdom n confidence.

If I were to be asked what my recipe is for remaining sane after all these years, I guess it'll look something like the following :-

Spring clean your life every now n then
Remove bad friends, crappy bosses, ill-fitting clothes, worn-out shoes, mouldy relationships from your closet. If they didn't help you look or feel good in the past chances are they won't in the future. Out of a sense of insecurity n guilt it is not always easy to let go but you need space in your life for stocking up new (and better) things.

Never bear a grudge...for too long
This one is never easy. I used to be a very emotional person n find it hard to detach a situation from a person. But I later realise that I have put way too much baggage on myself.

It's normal human reaction to be angry.....but life is too short for carrying a burden for too long.

Take care of your health...and it will take care of you
It doesn't matter how u do it - exercise, dance, housework, a roll in the hay ;) ...your body n mind are the first things that came with you into this world n the last you'll leave behind. So do not abuse them for too long.

Have a hobby
Be it throwing a jab at an imaginary person in the gym, dancing till your legs cramp, warbling your lungs out in the karaoke, shutterbugging everyone n everything with your RM10k DSLR, learning how to bake, making your own mugs, busting your credit at the shopping malls (not adviseable though), going to the spa....all of us need a bit of diversion to recharge our batteries.

Always give of your best
Never ever compromise yourself as you will only be cheating yourself. I remember a Sixth Form teacher who used to say "Give to the world of your best, and the best will come back to you". It was a really big statement back then but now I realise that she could be talking about good karma n good vibes. Wise words indeed.

Be true to yourself
To some ppl, being in denial is sometimes the easier way out of situations or circumstances. You may be able to put on an act now, but you won't be able to do so for the rest of your life.

Help others whenever, wherever n however you can
Don't ask me why I do it....I'm no angel but it's always in my nature to help others. Of course when I grew older I became wary of certain people who claim they need my help - it can be a big bad world out there - you just gotta trust your instincts on this.

Each of us have our individual talents n abilities, so there are many ways that we can extend help to those who need it. Just think of it as buying materials to build a bigger n better heart.

Accept the fact that life is unfair
Ok I may have copied this shamelessly from Richard Carlson but there is profound truth in this. Some ppl spend too much time n energy whining n stressing themselves out about how tough things are but life does not come without its challenges. Acceptance is the key.

See the positive in everything that you do
When life throws you lemons (like it or not, it always does), go make lemonade. This has helped me tremendously when I was faced with crappy situations. It helps build self-respect.

Step out of your comfort zone...sometimes
You will never know your true capabilities until you try. Sure, some situations may make you look like a complete jackass but you'll never lose the lessons learnt.

Never lose your capacity to love
Be it love for your family, partner, God, friends, colleagues, animals, the earth...even if you came from an emotionless family, suffered bad relationships n shitty ppl....we are all still capable of love n being loved.

I was never too crazy abt bday celebrations....but I think it's time that I acknowledge my existence in this wonderful journey called Life.