Stiletos and Whipped Cream, my version of Fifty Shades

For a balanced life, one need to learn how to please oneself.

Often, this concept does revolve around food - go on, take another slice of cake, you've earned it! - or the personal satisfaction of splurging on with that shiny plastic card - a pair of pumps here, a top there, it's for my good cause!

Pumps by Sofia Webster

Announcers and marketers have understood it so well, and our brain seem to have team up with them too! How many time did we go crazy for that bag, that car, or the "buy one, get the second at -20%" deal? Hundreds of times, right? But, can we still feel the pleasure we experienced when coming out of the boutique with our trophee? ... Well, I don't know about you, but me, barely! Not even sure than this item is still in my closet a year later (Parisian space is limited, got to sort out the wardrobe often!!!)

But, what if Life pleasures weren't in what we own, but in what we do? What if we were to reconsider who we are, not by what we have, but by what we do? Apologies to be baking up your brain at such an early hour on a Saturday morning!

I had my "shopaholic period", which wasn't my most glorious hour I must say, nor was it the most satisfying! My gilty pleasure you may ask? Starbucks!

Pic by freestock.org

Yes, my spending sprees included impressive amount given to the biggest American coffee chain in the world. Wanna know what the upmost funniest thing about it is? I wasn't even drinking coffee at the time!!! No, I'm dead serious! My thing was the Chaï Tea Latte, which name by the way, is a little ridiculous considering that "chaï" means "tea", but anyway... Everyday, besides the exceptional Sunday, my breakfast was taken there, and/or my afternoon tea sometimes.

I also had the "never enough pumps syndrome", for which I invested in a trunk to eventually store them all! The list can go on when we count the numerous pairs of earrings, stored in metallic shortbread boxes, or the weekly new top I had to buy because I couldn't be going out wearing a top already seen by my friends! (How shameful!) But how much satisfaction did I get out of all of this? 15 minutes at the most. Miserable me!

_Pic by Kai Oberhäuser

To finally end my overall personal disappointment, I went on a quest - which was actually part of the whole independence shebang you read about in my first post.

The forgotten quest of the lost purpose.

I was set to find the answer to this so important question, so I could wake up in the morning with a smile on my face and a spring to my steps. After months of a tumultuous ride including a Starbucks rehab, a professional turnaround, a personal life shakeout, and a marvellous 2 weeks round trip to Edinburg & Ireland with all but the content of my cabine luggage, I realised what made me feel alive, self-confident and excited me the most :

My greatest pleasure in life is to help others.

There is nothing more thrilling for me but to be of assistance to someone who needs it, to be the shoulder they need to cry on, and to see their smile on their face lighting up again.
To contribute to other peoples lives, for the better, every day, at my level, whether they know me or not, brings a feeling of personal satisfaction greater than all the Frappuchinos in the world. The best part of this? It also help boost my self esteem, which is like super revolutionary for me.

I get this feeling today with the clients I help, in all their "thank you"s, when we shake hands at the end of a meeting, when they win their first big contract, but also in the phone calls I get from people coming to me thanks to the word-of-mouth.

When you please others, you also please yourself, and it is so much stronger than all the impulsive purchases of clothes, or fancy coffees with syrup and cream. I hope you will find the replacement of your "frappucino" for a greater happier you, and those around you. And to ease the start of your research, a little "food porn" goes a long way! ;)

pic by Jennifer Pallian

Until next time.
With love and whipped cream ;)

Charlye