Weekend Mood Switch: Rewards Don't Have to Be Expensive

A reward for yourself

When you hear that, some people might think of brand-name goods, trips, or high-end restaurants.

Of course, those are wonderful too.

But you can't afford such luxuries every week, can you?

That is why I think this.

Rewards don't have to be expensive.

If it is something that makes your heart feel happy, that is enough.

For example, choosing a slightly more expensive ice cream at a convenience store.

Buying freshly baked bread from your favorite bakery.

Buy just one type of tea you've been curious about.

Decorate with a single flower from a florist.

Pick up a book at the bookstore whose cover caught your eye.

These are all small joys you can start for just a few hundred yen.

When you reach your 50s, even if you are used to spending money and time on others,

some people still feel a bit hesitant about treating themselves.

"Is this a waste?"

"Should I just hold back?"

Such feelings may surface from time to time.

But those who can make themselves happy can also be kinder to those around them.

Because smiles are born when there is a little room in your heart.

My recent little rewards are,

eating seasonal sweets.

drinking tea slowly at my favorite cafe.

choosing seasonal peaches or watermelons at the supermarket.

and a morning walk, strolling leisurely to the shrine.

None of these are extraordinary, but

"Today was a good day, too."

They are precious moments that make me feel that way.

A reward is not about the price, but whether it moved your heart.

There are days when even 500 yen can make you happy.

There are days when even 100 yen can make you smile.

Accumulating such days,

might be what enriches our lives.

This weekend, why don't you ask yourself too?

"What is a small reward that would make me happy today?"

The answer can be different for everyone.

It could be ice cream, coffee, a book, flowers, or even a nap.

Those who can cherish themselves,

will surely be able to welcome Monday with a slightly lighter heart.

To you, who worked hard this week too.

Please, don't hesitate to give yourself a small reward.

It will become a gentle energy to help you spend tomorrow with a smile, too.🌿