Redefining indulgence

I am a girl who likes to indulge. I'm all about a rich dessert, or a shopping spree, or wearing the softest slippers on earth all day long. But even I have to admit that the reason these things are labeled "Indulgent" plays into the fact that I know darn well I shouldn't do them everyday.

But as I'm heading down this Miracle Morning path, and working toward completing a full year of my SAVERS, I need to redefine what I feel is an indulgence. Because I realized this week that indulging doesn't have to be bad for me.

No, I'm not kidding. Stick with me here.

This morning, it took me almost three times as long to do my Miracle Morning, because I let myself get swept away by it. I was enjoying my book, so I read longer. I was enjoying the audiobook I was listening to during my exercise, so I grabbed an extra glass of water and listened for a few extra minutes before I moved on. I was enjoying playing with my planner during my visualization time, so I browsed a few web pages to get ideas on what to plan for next week and get excited about it. I even let my meditation time stretch on, because my cat had curled in my lap during the meditation, so I spent a few extra minutes in silence just petting him and feeling him purr.

I indulged in things that are good for me. I was able to be in the moment and mindful of each step I was taking.

I indulged yesterday too. 

My local grocery store has started carrying pre-prepped meals ALA Blue Apron or Plated style. I've always wanted to try one, but my hubby is a steak and potatoes kind of guy, and there were always ingredients inside he wouldn't go near. And spending the $15-$18 on a meal that was just for me seemed like kind of a waste. We're on a tight budget and I couldn't justify it. 

Well, what do you know, when I was out at the store this time, on a day when hubby was going to be gone all night for his job, they had marked a couple those same meal kits down to just $5. They were approaching the "prepare by" dates, and were being clearanced out. So I grabbed myself one, because I could indulge just this once.  The ingredients were some I'd never cooked with due to local availability and the fact that hubby wouldn't touch a mustard-based sauce with a ten foot pole. The mealcard looked amazing, but I am not a chef. By any stretch. I have messed up burgers to the point that I don't know I'd have called them meat by the end of it.

On the bright side, the wheatberries (what the hell is a wheatberry BTW?!?), were already cooked, or boiled or whatever the hell you do to those things. So I wouldn't screw that up. Even the chicken was already cut for me. But did I think it would turn out as pretty as the picture? Umm...nope. But hopefully it would taste good. It had bacon crumbles on top. It couldn't be totally bad. Turns out it was one of those low calorie meals too. Only 550 calories for half the entire box. Serious score. I ended up having it for both lunch and dinner, because it was so damn tasty. And I have to say, it came out damn close to the picture too!

I was pretty sure by way the broccoli-looking thing's stalks were browning that I was screwing it up. Not to mention the fact that I had to add my own salt and pepper, so there was all that pressure.

But in the end, when I dished it out and crumbled half of the bacon that was left over it, I was impressed. (I ate a few pieces beforehand. It was bacon, don't judge me.)

​I've missed my calling as a pre-prepped food chef!

Or it could be that it's a good product that looks like the picture no matter who the chef is. Either way, I did something I don't do often enough, and cooked a special dish just for me. It was definitely indulgent. 

And I didn't even mind the extra dishes.  I'm starting to realize that I have to begin thinking about indulgence as something other than a vat of something bad to wallow in when my day sucks. I need to treat myself in little ways throughout my week, that can actually serve me well in the long run.

Except for exercising outside of my Miracle Morning. I'm not going that far yet. 

Do you have any positive ways to indulge that you treat yourself with? I'd love to hear all about them. I need more ideas!

​~Roxy