September 24, 2021 – The Thirty-Third Official Friday Night BeerBlog

And when I say YOU, I mean ME. I could have sworn that I’ve written about this topic this year, but I couldn’t remember and figured that if I couldn’t remember, certainly you would not. But the perfectionist in me went back to check my titles from this year and I haven’t – it was last year. Which means that I probably haven’t done enough treating of myself this year.

My sister and I love to throw the line “Treat Yo’ Self” back and forth. It comes from the television show Parks and Recreation when characters Tom and Donna take one day out of the year to treat themselves to whatever they want. It goes like this:

How do you feel that call upon your heart to Treat Yo’ Self? It doesn’t have to be as much as treating yourself to everything your heart desires. It could be something small (or big) that you’ve been thinking about getting or doing for yourself.

Buying things for yo’ self or for your family or your household that are considered staples don’t count. Get it? Getting a new bathroom mat isn’t treating yourself. Having dinner or lunch out isn’t really treating yourself. Spending money on decent shampoo isn’t treating yourself. These are things you should do on a fairly normal basis like a normal person.

Really treating yo’ self is doing something that you have literally kept yourself from doing or buying in the past for whatever reason. It’s NOT choosing the cheaper option (Zappos Outlet) when what you really is the full mack daddy (Fleet Feet). Or it could be doing something that you always dreamt of doing, but haven’t.

For my friend Rachel, it was booking a European trip for her 25th wedding anniversary next year. For my sister it may be having 3 White Claws on a Saturday when she reaches her next weight loss goal. For others it could be buying a new bike, getting a massage, or signing up for cooking lessons.

The itch to really treat yo’ self comes to me about once a year, much like Tom and Donna. And I never really have big thoughts of things I want or want to do they do, but I get a different vibe when I see certain shoes being hawked in my Instagram feed. I start to click on things on usually avoid. I’ll read my Southern Living magazine cover to get ideas and dream of new colors to paint the walls.

The desire to treat yo’ self is a strong one. And I would recommend that you don’t ignore it. Nothing throws the psyche into more disarray and self loathing than denying yourself something that 1. You want and 2. Won’t hurt to gift to yourself. You work hard after all – what is all that hard work for if you can’t treat yo’ self every now and then? Not to mention the fact that Christmas is coming and you’ll be gifting everyone else. So you’d better take care of yourself now while you can.

That being said, I just bought myself a Ravens shirt to wear on game day, which sounds crazy and small, but trust me I’ve been looking at them for two years and just haven’t bought one. Also there are a cute pair of Born black ankle boots that haunt my desire dreams. And there’s that podcasting class I’m wanting to take. And I’d really like some new cycling shoes. Oh, and a bike.

Beware! This is where it starts because like with Donna and Tom, once you crack into the treat yo’ self mentality it’s hard to stop sometimes. So you gotta pay attention.

Never fear over here. I’ve got Mike. He can kill a Treat Yo’ Self vibe faster than snot.

But as for you…if you need the go ahead to treat yo’ self this September, consider this your permission slip. I’m right there with ya.

LLM

Link to the podcast version:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1822142/9256139-fnbb-33-it-s-that-time-of-year-you-deserve-to-treat-yo-self.mp3?download=true