Secrets to Happiness: Secret #10

While fried chicken represents happiness for many of us, it is not the 10th not-so-secret secret. We recognize that there are people who do not care for this food, or any meat, or they are not allowed to consume the saturated fats. This image is meant to portray, on a personal level for me, what the 10th secret is all about:

Indulge periodically

Yes, that's right. Indulge yourself sensually. This can take many forms like eating a favorite, but possibly unhealthy food. Or spending an entire day relaxing. Take that drive in the country. Finally go to that spa and get the full treatment. Sit in front of the TV with your favorite beverage. Do something that you don't have to do, but that you want to do.

But be smart about it. Don't overindulge. This secret is intended to be a respite from your daily grind, from watching what you eat, from being a servant to others. But you can't go overboard and you can't give in to violence (you know who you are.) That wouldn't be good. It means, once a week have a couple slices of cheesecake. Lay on the couch with a book or the remote. Go shopping for yourself.

Remember the word periodically, too. Give these indulgences some space or you'll wind up like me in my twenties. Once a week is a pretty good gap. That means you have to stick to your guns the rest of the time. Be sure to schedule this, so folks know you're having some "me" time.

I know what a couple of you are thinking. Hey, I have "me" time everyday. Well, if you can control it and you feel good about yourself and your life, then more power to you. But if you don't...well, that's another secret.

My indulgence is three pieces of fried chicken: two thighs and a drumstick. Popeye's when I can get it. Over time, though, this indulgence has lost a lot of its prior enjoyment. So, my indulgences change. I'm apt to read for a three hour stretch now...but I still love my chicken on occasion.

What about you?