In times of inflation, we have become conscious of even the smallest purchases.
A cup of coffee.
A baked treat.
Replacing towels.
A candle that smells comforting for no logical reason.
Not because these things would create financial ruin. But because along the way, we’ve began to scrutinize small, everyday joys like an unnecessary expense.
I’ve noticed this especially in hardworking people. They easily spend money on responsibilities, obligations, practical items but quietly struggle to spend the same amount on softness.
A donut suddenly becomes irresponsible.
A coffee becomes indulgent.
Flowers, chocolate or cards are unnecessary.
These small things are often doing much more emotional work than we realize.
A box of donuts brought to a meeting.
Coffee shared with a friend.
Flowers placed on a table during a difficult week.
A baked treat picked up simply because someone came to mind.
These gestures are rarely about the item itself.
They’re about participation.
A small way of saying “I thought of you today.”
Personally, I find joy in connecting through food and bringing a little something into the spaces I move through. Food is a simple offer and a reason to pause together for a moment; a low-barrier invitation.
Often, the person bringing the donuts often leaves feeling nourished too. Not because of the sugar. Because generosity — even in tiny forms — reminds us we still belong to one another. They are small reminders that life is not meant to be lived alone or in scarcity mode.
No need for extravagant joy.
Just quiet moments of connection
to other people,
and to ourselves.
More soon.