First published in 2003 by Conari Press,

      an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC

      York Beach, ME

      With offices at:

      368 Congress Street

      Boston, MA 02210

       www.redwheelweiser.com

      Copyright © 2003 Cynthia MacGregor

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages.

      LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

      MacGregor, Cynthia.

      Little indulgences : more than 400 ways to be good to yourself / Cynthia MacGregor.

      p. cm.

      Includes bibliographical references and index.

      ISBN 1-57324-873-8

      1. Conduct of life--Miscellanea. 2. Quality of life--Miscellanea. I. Title.

      BF637.C5M32 2003

      646.7--dc21

      2003008484

      Typeset in Deepdene by Kathleen Wilson Fivel

      Cover design by David A. Freedman

      Printed in Canada.

      TCP

      10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03

      8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

       www.redwheelweiser.com

       www.redwheelweiser.com/newsletter

      Contents

       Acknowledgments

       Indulge Yourself Today

      Acknowledgments

      In alphabetical order, thanks to: Andrew Brownlee, Cindy Crawford (not the famous one), Norm Edelman, Lars Hanson, Andrea Kalina, Jesse Leaf, Bob Lebensold, Bess Metcalf, Lori Paige, Mari-Jean Phillips, Zac Phillips, Ken Pinkham, Jennifer Radalin, Bruce Wallace, and Ruth Wenig.

      Indulge Yourself Today

      Today is a special day.

      Okay, so maybe it's not your birthday. Or the anniversary of your wedding (or divorce). Or the day you start your dream job. Or your child's birthday. Or a national holiday. Or any other milestone.

      But why can't it be a special day anyhow?

      Any day can be a special day if you want it to be. You give special treats to the other people who are important to you. You buy them little gifts or cook them special foods. But aren't you important too? Certainly you deserve special treatment sometimes.

      

The treat you give yourself doesn't have to be an all-day thing (although it could be). Sometimes just a quick pick-me-up, ten minutes spent doing something special, something meaningful, something nice for yourself is all you need to turn an ordinary day, or even a “down” day, into a special day. Just to give you a heads-up, I've marked some of these with the little clock for Instant Indulgences. I recommend you pick one and do it right away.

      

Sometimes, we all need a special day. Sometimes it's to help us get over the blues. Sometimes it's to help us get over the blahs. Sometimes it's because we're in a celebratory mood and need an occasion to celebrate. Sometimes it's because we have an occasion to celebrate and need a way to do it. And sometimes it's “just because.” Whatever your reason (although you don't have to have one at all), if you need or want a special day, there are plenty of ways to give yourself one. Ways that are extravagant, ways that are budget-priced, ways that are completely cost-free. Things you can do alone or with a friend, at home or away, quietly or exuberantly. I've indicated these with the calendar page for All Day Indulgences. Mark your calendar now. When can you devote a whole day to yourself? Choose an all-dayer and make a date with yourself.

      

Some of the indulgences in this book are the Reward Over Time kind. Begin an exercise program today and you'll reap benefits—some now and some over time. Ditto starting a more healthy diet. Or beginning to keep a journal.

      

And then there are those times when the best thing you can do for yourself is to do something for someone else. These I call Generous Indulgences.

      This book is filled with indulgences—treats and activities for every taste and budget. Open it up at random when you're feeling down. Use it as a planning tool. That's right, you should actually plan to be good to yourself. Keep it handy for that inevitable day when you want to treat yourself but you're feeling so blue or bored or tired that you're fresh out of inspiration.

      Feel free to improvise. Start a list of your own indulgences. But, whatever you do, be good to yourself. Today can be your special day. (And so can tomorrow, if you want.)

       Throw yourself a half-birthday party.

      Call an old friend you haven't talked to in ages, catch up, and yak at length.

      Write a poem about someone you love—your beloved, a close friend, a family member. As you write it, you'll remember all the things you love about that person, and why he or she is so special to you.

      Exercise. Do your regular exercise routine or start a new one. Rent or borrow exercise tapes, go for a walk, learn yoga, play golf, do some sit-ups, or just run up and down the stairs ten times.

       Have your legs waxed.

      Treat yourself to a session at a tanning salon, or buy a nice self-tanning product (safer!)—especially if you have the midwinter blahs.

      Volunteer your time to the local headquarters of your preferred political party or, if it's election time, the headquarters of your favorite candidate (local or national). Knowing that you're making a difference in how the government is run will make a difference in how you feel about yourself.

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