It didn’t really matter that in the past few months I’ve taken over a company, finished a book, and said the long, big good-bye to my mother. It didn’t really matter that it was my birthday and I was giving myself a present. I still felt sharp pangs of guilt as I said good-bye to my little darlings and headed for a spa in the Poconos.
These days any sign of excess is uncool, and it’s hard to feel good about getting pampered when 40 percent or more of Americans need food stamps to feed their family. But at some point we need all to take care of ourselves. Or rather I needed to take care of myself, so that I could continue to take care of others.
I confess, it felt great to have all my dead winter skin scrubbed off, and to have a masseuse attempt to unlock my muscles, tangled from too much working, driving, and just plain living.
But at dinner my first night at the Lodge at Woodloch, a destination spa in Hawley, PA, I shared battle stories from the past year with the owners, John and Ginny Lopis, who stopped by my table to say hello. They, along with all of us, have struggled to stay afloat during these hardest of times. I was grateful they had made it this far. As I looked around the dining room, I recognized many of the same faces that had been working here a year and a half ago, when my husband and I came to celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary (we kayaked in the little lake behind the Lodge and ate wild cranberries right from the bush). I realized that my decision to reward myself was helping to keep others employed—in a town where there aren’t many employment options, to be frank.
Suddenly, I didn’t feel so guilty. After all, my decision to reward and heal myself is exactly the kind of stimulus this economy needs. Spas are places where people can really focus on health, and where I go to reconnect with my purpose and mission in life. It won’t make me lose any weight, or get me totally fit in just two days, but it will help me gain strength to keep on doing everything I need to do everyday to keep my own local economy chugging along.
So, the Lodge at Woodloch…I highly recommend it. For more incentive, check out my next blog entry for five things you find out at a spa.
My mother has gone there a few times with her older-age group and loved it. I know she didn’t spring for any spa services, but sometimes just getting away from the everyday is the most important thing to rejuvenate yourself.
If people with money stop spending, those living from day to day will have an even harder time. You should be proud (not guilty) for being able to stimulate the economy in any way you can.
My husband and I like to eat out so we have doubled the amount we tip. I get regular massages and I bet the money I pay and tip for this goes right back into the economy. We are giving more to charities. We have someone come 1 day a week to fix and improve our house and yard. We shop at both small and large businesses. We laugh when we get our credit card bill each month telling ourselves how much we have aided the economy. So far this seeming recklessness hasn’t hurt us a bit. Our bills are all paid and I pay most if not all of the credit card balance every month. Our 401k did exceptionally well in 2009. I do know there are many people struggling. I’ve been there myself. I remember when turning my assets into cash meant returning soft drink bottles to the store for a few pennies.
So, Maria, relax and enjoy yourself. I wish I were at the Lodge at Woodloch, too
I agree with the previous poster that people shouldn’t stop spending money if they have it. But, as one of those people that needs food stamps to get by, and works VERY hard at a job and taking care of my one year old that has a spinal tumor, I feel like I would like to get taken care of like that too. People should reach out to others having a hard time. Maybe you would feel good giving someone else (that has never had it) a night on the town at a nice restaurant or a weekend getaway. People with REAL problems need rejuvination too.
40% of americans needing/using food stamps seems very inaccurate. What is the source? A November NYT article says about 15%.
Thanks for the recommendation of a good spa right here at home.