Thankful Thursday: Guilty Pleasures
It's Thankful Thursday. Joy expands and contracts in direct relation to our gratitude. What are you thankful for today? A person, a place, a thing? A story, a song, a poem? What makes your world expand?
I've entered the season of gluttony, which is quickly followed by guilt. In an effort to shake the shame and simply enjoy the excess, this week I'm giving thanks for small, indulgent pleasures:
Mountain Crunch
Crunchy caramel corn and almonds drenched in white chocolate — from Roberta's Chocolates, Candies & Nuts, based in Denver, Colorado. Years ago, I lived down the street from Roberta's small, unmarked shop. I made frequent stops, and rarely shared my sweets. Now I live 1000 miles away, and I'm thankful for online shopping and parents who bring a bag when they visit.
Modern Family 
I don't watch much television. And when I do, I mostly annoy others with my commentary — What's with the overacting? Who writes this crap? — before leaving the room to read a book. Still, I have my sporadic guilty pleasure viewing, shows watched alone and in marathon stretches. For a while I was hooked on Say Yes to the Dress. Now it's Modern Family. My taste in mindless distraction is improving.
Magazines
I read earnest literary journals, dark novels and complicated poems. Quick, someone pass the People magazine! While it's vital to feed the mind, sometimes that heavy head needs a break. I don't care if the glossies are full of Photoshopped images and anorexic child models. I don't care if they contribute to my body image issues. Well, really, I do, and for years I avoided fashion magazines for just this reason -- but I've learned to compartmentalize. Mind over body. My mind needs a break and my body's surrendered.
This Thankful Thursday has turned into Confession Thursday. Must pleasure and shame be entwined?
Enough about me! What (guilty pleasures) are you thankful for today?
Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 9:28AM
Reader Comments (4)
Guilty pleasures: the wee small glass of wine at night after the kids are in bed (guilty only because my liver has enough prescription medication to contend with); new clothes (have NEVER been able to buy new clothes without feeling guilty -- probably I need therapy, since everyone needs new clothes from time to time); and lastly: reading Dear Prudence on Slate.com.
I have so many things for which I am thankful. I don't need to look for things about which I will feel guilty. Actually, the older I become the less I feel guilty about anything except those few things from the long past that I can never be rid of...and none of those are, or ever were, pleasurable.
So, I an thankful for all the good things I have, earned or not.
Molly - I don't know about Dear Prudence. I can't wait to add another guilty pleasure to my menu. Thanks!
Shirl - I really appreciate your perspective. Helps me put my pleasures in place. Thank you.
poem by my friend and Corvallian, Be Herrera
For Havel, Hitchens, Kim. *
our wheeling galaxy
is playing subtle games again
we humans fear
pulverizing demands this 21st century
master dictators humanists dead this week
as in wars
declared so in fresh efforts
at promised peace
jackals other scavengers offer help
lick new boots
in hopes of avoiding future
bondage or death
in El Salvador 2 heroes
from most recent
wars sharply opposed in politics
share a cemetary
A.J Muste spoke best
"when all's over and done
there's this to be said
the womb and the tomb
and daily bread"
Be Davison Herrera
12/19/2011
* Vaclav Havel, Christopher Hitchens, Kim El Jong II