On Using “The Good Stuff”
'We’ve all seen it: the “fine china” gathering dust in a glass case, the $200 bottle of Scotch waiting for a “worthy” milestone, or the silk dress hanging in the back of the closet with the tags still on, waiting for an invitation that never arrives. We treat our best possessions like museum artifacts—precious, fragile, and strictly off-limits for the mundane reality of a Tuesday afternoon.
But here is the uncomfortable truth: the “perfect occasion” is a ghost. If we aren't careful, we end up saving our most joyful things for a day we might not even be around to see. It’s time to stop treating our lives like a dress rehearsal and start using the “good stuff” now.
The Psychology of “Waiting for Better”
Why do we do this? Usually, it’s rooted in a scarcity mindset. We feel that if we use the expensive candle or wear the designer shoes to the grocery store, we are “wasting” the value. We operate under the delusion that joy is a finite resource that must be rationed for weddings, graduations, or event the eulogies delivered after we’re gone.
When we save everything for a special occasion, we inadvertently tell ourselves that our daily life isn't special enough. We suggest that the 99 percent of our time spent working, eating, and resting is just “filler” until the 1 percent of real life happens.
The Magic of the Mundane
The most beautiful lives aren't defined by three or four massive celebrations; they are built on the quality of a thousand ordinary mornings.
Think about the sensory experience of using your favorite things:
The Weight of Quality: There is a tactile joy in drinking coffee from a hand-thrown ceramic mug rather than a chipped promotional cup.
The Power of Scent: Lighting the “expensive” candle while you fold laundry transforms a chore into a ritual.
The Confidence of Comfort: Wearing your favorite outfit changes how you carry yourself.
When you bring “the good stuff” into the ordinary, you bridge the gap between the life you have and the life you dream of. You stop waiting for permission to be happy.
The “Funeral” Reality Check
It’s a blunt thought, but it’s a necessary wake-up call: What treasures will you leave behind after the last eulogy is given and the cold dirt rests above you? How many times have you helped clean out a loved one’s home only to find pristine linens, unopened perfumes, and untouched sets of silverware?
The irony of the “good stuff” is that it’s often used for the first time by strangers or heirs who didn't attach the same weight to it. The person who earned it, bought it, or was gifted it never actually tasted the wine or felt the silk. Don’t let your treasures become a burden for someone else to sort through. Let them be the backdrop of your own memories.
How to Start Living “High-End” Every Day
You don’t have to overhaul your life overnight. Start with small, rebellious acts of luxury:
Eat the Fancy Chocolate: Don't wait for a bad day or a holiday. Eat it because it’s 3 p.m. on a Wednesday and you’re alive.
Wear the “Special” Clothes: If it makes you feel like a million bucks, it belongs on your body, not a hanger.
Use the Linen: Sleep on the high-thread-count sheets tonight. You spend a third of your life in bed; that is the definition of a special occasion.
Break the Seal: Open that bottle of wine you’ve been saving. Pair it with pizza. The contrast is where the fun is.
Final Thoughts: You Are the Occasion
The value of an object isn't found in its price tag, but in the utility and joy it provides. A bottle of perfume is just scented alcohol until it’s sprayed on skin; a crystal glass is just silica until it’s raised in a toast.
The “good stuff” doesn't make the day special; you make the day special by being in it. Using your best things is a way of honoring your time and acknowledging that today, in all its messy, ordinary glory, is worth celebrating.
So, go ahead. Open the box. Light the wick. Pour the drink. Your life is happening right now, and it’s the best occasion you’ll ever have.