Much love, Shaudeh Farjami

Speaking truth and nothing but the truth. Authenticity? Expect nothing less. I am coming clean about my simple and guilty pleasures.

Simple pleasures are all about the present— brief, positive, commonplace. A specific peak of utmost satisfaction, sparked effortlessly. What’s the best part about simple pleasures? There is no cost and no loss. If you do not remain in the present, the moment will slip through your fingers.

1. A good laugh. I am talking wheezing from the pit of your stomach, feeling the abs coming in, gasping for air laughter. Surround yourself by individuals who bring out this roar of laughter.
2. The first sip of a new beverage when you are thirsty. The first sip of a Starbucks Passion Tango Tea Lemonade in the summer. Forgetting to pack your water bottle for the gym and racing home, quenched, to crack open a Vitamin Water. Hauling to the sidelines desperate for your Hydro Flask during a water break that was called far too late into practice. Nothing beats the peak of refreshment.
3. The celebration in the instant something makes sense. Getting to the end of a math problem. Seeking advice from friends to understand why you feel the way you feel. The wave of tranquility that comes along with resolution is irreplaceable.
4. When someone does a spot on impression. A narrative is elevated by a thousand levels when the re-telling gives the story its full justice. Not to mention, this simple pleasure is actually inspired by one of my roommates. When she tells a story, she hits voices on the dot. It makes all those who surround her feel so included in the story. It eliminates the commentary “…you just had to be there” because the re-enactment is so accurate.
5. Finishing a goal you started. Validating and confirming productivity by physically checking a box off of a to-do list is so motivating. Pro tip: write out to-do lists daily. You will realize how efficient you really are and how much you are capable of accomplishing in a days time.
6. Eating a snack you have been saving for a particular moment— worth the wait every time. Even better, finding an ice cream bar in the back of the freezer that you forgot you bought the week before. There is a flood of pure bliss that comes along with munching on a snack you have been looking forward to. For me, it’s a bag of Purely Elizabeth granola waiting for me at 1:00am on a Saturday.

Guilty pleasures are leisures we enjoy, but society says that liking these activities exhibits a negative quality about oneself. What society labels as “guilty” has sometimes proven to be positive for mental health. It’s the feeling of regret and remorse afterwards that carries the weight of the negative energy. Spend as many hours as you’d like watching Love Island… it won’t make you any dumber or any less noble. I pinky promise. In fact, the worst thing you can do is convince yourself that it will affect you negatively. Do not scold yourself for downing a “Gotta Have It sized Cold Stone Creation” on a Tuesday night. That will only waste the delight that your brain indulged upon.

1. The bond you form with someone when you have a mutually hated person. It’s risky business, but do not lie to yourself. As toxic as it may sound when put into words, we all have a friendship with the foundation of a common enemy. Vocalizing a hatred illuminates vulnerability, which fulfills a desire for connection. In doing so, you are acknowledging similarities in personal morals, parallels in qualities you look for in a friend, and affinities in characteristics you steer clear from.
2. Stealing someones instagram caption because its perfect for your photo. Like my mom always told me from a young age, copying is the biggest form of flattery. Individuals imitate when they admire another and their doings .
3. Ordering food delivery. Especially when I know very well that I have groceries waiting for me in the fridge. 80/20 is so important. Treat yourself and switch up your meals, even if that means door dashing sushi over making use of your groceries that will expire in the next 48 hours. Over repetition leads to resentment. You can’t let those at home, whole food meals get old. Balance is everything.
4. Overpriced lattes. A latte under $5.50 is a steal in Los Angeles. Not to mention, my favorite dirty chai at J.C. Beans in Dana Point, Orange County is $7.75. Yes, $7.75. I have only treated myself to it twice but, boy, have I dreamed about those two mornings ever since. Something about an iced coffee in a clear plastic sippy-lid cup is beyond gratifying.
5. Stowing away the unopened mini lotions from the hotel bathroom before housekeeping cleans the room so that they are replenished everyday. I am not entirely sure if this is normal. I love having hotel lotions, shampoos, and conditioners on hand for traveling. Most recently, I stocked up on Honey Mango Moisturizer from the Maui Grand Wailea. It makes for a satisfying self-care moment with a hydration that takes me back to Hawaiian paradise while I am away at college in South Central LA.
6. Eating food straight out of a container. Even though it saves the time of taking out a dish and washing it afterwards, it is flat out lazy. Arguably, ice cream tastes better out of the pint itself. Try and tell me otherwise. It’s something about seeing the visual of the flavor and the description that tastes better than it would in a ceramic bowl. Not to mention, ice cream in a bowl always seems to melt way faster. Some may call it excusatory, I call it observant.