treat yourself

July 24th 2025

4:37PM

Today is my last day in LA. I’ve been here for a full week! I head back to Chicago tomorrow. 

I’m sitting on the patio at San Antonio Winery for their ninety-minute wine tasting. I already tried their champagne from France, and now I will taste four different wines from local regions in California. Oh, and the charcuterie board is chef’s kiss!

There are three friend groups sitting nearby me. I’m the only one riding solo. 

I can’t help but think about how I enjoy treating myself, whether on vacation, or back home. 

This is my third solo trip since I was a senior in college — traveling on my own is the best gift I can give to myself. I feel at most peace when I do things on my own terms. It helps me build on my personal autonomy.

It’s funny how the brain works — my former friend, who I haven’t thought about in awhile, just came to my mind. The last time I saw her was in April 2021, when she invited a few friends to hang out in the backyard garden area of her childhood home. She had placed her designer backpack on one of the benches. I thought the bag was really cute, so I complimented her for it. She said, “Thank you, [enter her husband’s name here] bought it for me. I would never buy myself something like this.” She said this with a sly grin — which revealed an interesting energy. 

At that moment, I immediately thought about May 2019, when I dropped nearly $100 on my pink and gold Michael Kors purse. It was a gift to myself as a senior in college — I wanted to treat myself to graduating after four years of hard work. My gut told me not to share this with her, so I didn’t. 

If she wants to celebrate being treated by her partner, then she should. There’s nothing wrong with that. I thought it was cool that her partner thought of her, and intentionally gifted her with a backpack that matched her style. 

I wonder though, if she’s found the value of treating herself. I suppose we all have different perspectives of what it means to treat ourselves, especially as we grow older. If she hasn’t done so already, I hope she treats herself to things she enjoys and truly loves. 

Since I was a teenager, I learned to treat myself often, regardless if I’m single or in a relationship. I feel free when I treat myself to something that improves my mental health, whether it’s writing, a wine tasting experience, or a solo trip. I also feel good when I treat myself to material things, like designer bags. 

I hope you treat yourself — just because you want to — and because you can!