Originally published 5/14/2013
Hold on to your butts, we’re about to get philosophical here.
Dappered covers stuff. Lots of stuff. But stuff isn’t the end. It can be a means to the end, but it’s not the end. Here’s what that means:
It’s a beautiful warm day. You put on a favorite outfit, decide to take a long lunch, grab a bite with a date, and enjoy a glass or two of wine along side a fresh, uncomplicated meal before heading back to tackle whatever the afternoon has in store for you.
It doesn’t matter if your outfit cost $7,500 or $75. It doesn’t matter if you’re hopping a private jet to Marseille or riding your bike to the park down the street. That Pinot Grigio can cost $500, or it can cost $6.50. What’s key is that you’re taking the time to actually enjoy life, instead of always plugging along steadily towards some foggy goal that doesn’t pay off in the end.
It’s about choices.
We’re so damn busy, that hardly any of us have time to ask this simple question: “What do I want?”
So stop. Stop what you’re doing and answer. If you’re so busy that you can’t stop what you’re doing at this instant (totally possible) to answer that simple, yet big, question, stop for just long enough to schedule 15 minutes in the near future to do so. Get by yourself somewhere that’s free of noise. Just you and a pen and a piece of paper. Don’t think too hard about it. Answer the question.
What do I want?
From the shallow and material (I want this kind of watch on my wrist) to the deep and meaningful (I want to be completely comfortable in my own skin), write it down. All of it.
Then look at it. Are you moving towards that? Or are you fulfilling bogus, mythical obligations to societal stereotypes and/or peer pressures from family and friends?
The price tag on luxury isn’t listed in dollars and cents. The cost is making smart decisions and having a tiny bit of guts. Luxury is what happens when you get to a place where you call your shots. You might work for someone else, you might be responsible for others, but you still have the ability to hit the all-stop and smell the roses. Self grown, cheap grocery store, or pricey florist bought roses… it doesn’t matter how much they cost in the end. Just stop and smell them.
Because you sure can’t smell them when you’re pushing up daises.
Well said. Wasn’t expecting this on Dappered… but you’re absolutely right.
This is exactly why I read Dappered. It’s the site’s subtitle “Affordable Men’s Style” that really spoke to me the first time I came here. You don’t have to break the bank to look good and looking good is an avenue to feeling good and feeling good is an avenue to being happy. You can’t put a price on that.
Bravo.
Field Notes?
Love this article and it could not have been more timely. Bravo.
Nails.
Whatever is going on at Dappered lately, I am loving it. Thoughtful entries, raising awareness and debate to higher standards, giving us the opportunity to be better people overall, and not just better-dressed people. Keep up the amazing work everyone.
Agreed. I think a post like this bi-weekly, or even weekly, would be great. Short and thought provoking, just like this. And to echo the chorus, well done sirs (and madam).
Loving this too, Joe. Keep it coming. In the words of the immortal band Fugazi, “You are not what you own.”
This is why Dappered is my favority blog. Very well said.
Wasn’t that Don Draper’s tag line for the *Hawaii* tourism ad in season x episode y? Maybe not. Great post, Joe. I just took down one very simple note in my pocket notebook, and scheduled a slot tomorrow during lunch to think a bit deeper. Good sound advice, as always. Have a great day, fellas!
I was going to say exactly this. Between this and the article about Bangladesh, this seems to be a new aspect to Dappered and I shamelessly support it’s continued development. Precisely because the theme of this website is affordable style, which can lead to pitfalls in other areas of life and society if we simply pursue things as cheaply as possible. The real goal should be to get as much value as possible, which is in no way the same thing. And, as Joe pointed out so well, real lasting value is measured in many ways other than just dollars. Bravo.
Thanks for the post Joe. Keeps things in perspective. As I began reading I thought immediately about my day yesterday. For my birthday, my best friend (who is moving to Florida later this week) and I went fishing on his boat to go for a relaxing day on the water away from work, packing up the (his) house, preparing for closing, etc. We weren’t in some 100 ft. yacht out in the Caribbean–Just a few miles offshore along the Galveston Jetties. It wasn’t “fancy” but it was about as good as it gets.
This is probably my favorite post from you, Joe. Great read.
Here Here!
Here Here!
An excellent, thought provoking post. Well done.
Nailed it.
Thanks for this!
Great post, Joe. Been a long-time Dappered reader. This is what I believe, too. That’s why I wrote this philosophy into the closing montage of my new Sony Pictures film “Small Apartments,” starring Billy Crystal, Matt Lucas, Johnny Knoxville, Rebel Wilson, etc. I noticed recently that a fan posted the whole monologue on YouTube… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMXMiNTpmGA
I believe it is high time you did another post similar to this
You are wise beyond your years Sir.
For a second I thought the comments had be reopened. They weren’t.
http://i.imgur.com/c40VE.gif
It sucks that some negative people ruined this for the rest of us.
Luckily for me I do not expect much or even want much. All I need is a great cup of coffee, a good jazz album or film. My most expensive wants come in the form of beer I can not even purchase in my state. So that works out 😉