Personal Yummy #1
For many years now, I’ve been a fan of taking walks. Not only does a walk clear my mind, but it gets my endorphins and imagination flowing. Lately—that is, ever since I quit my corporate job and have been working from home—I’ve been taking frequent walks on Madison Avenue (the Madison Avenue of New York City, to be clear). If I’ve been working at the computer for a few hours and I find that my mind is getting tired and I’m feeling a bit restless, I’ll change out of my shorts or sweatpants and put on a pretty dress and some lipstick, and then out the door I go, into the sunshine and on my way to observe all of the beauty that Madison Avenue radiates. I’ll start around Eighty-Eighth Street and then head downtown, and I’ll cover about fifteen or twenty blocks—sometimes less, sometimes more, depending on how I’m feeling and how much time I’ve decided to devote to this energizing activity.
There’s something about surrounding yourself with beautiful things. In essence, it’s as if those beautiful things rub off on you and make you feel beautiful yourself. And there are certainly plenty of beautiful things on Madison Avenue: art galleries and museums; chocolate, pastry, and wine shops; window displays of sexy shoes, elegant perfumes, colorful lipsticks, sleek coffeemakers, and gorgeous dresses; the attractive blond guy with the noticeable blue eyes standing in front of the men’s clothing store where he works, winking, saying hello, and telling you that he really likes the deep purple dress you’re wearing; coffee and tea cafés with sidewalk seating; a young black boy of about ten exhibiting his paintings on one corner, saying as you walk by, “Hello. I’m an artist. Would you like to take a look at my work?”; La Maison du Chocolat, the Paris-based chocolatier that takes chocolate to the next level; Ladurée, the upscale bakery specializing in French macarons in many flavors (you must see the stacks of colorful, Easter egg–colored macarons lining the windows, and the tiny, elegant tea shop with the elaborate tables just inside); La Perla, the fancy lingerie boutique, featured in the “Great Sexpectations” episode of Sex and the City (Season Six: Part One, Episode Two); and, my favorite—I never get tired of walking by it—the inviting façade of The Carlyle, the famous luxury hotel.
Furthermore, it doesn’t even matter if you currently can’t afford those beautiful things. Or even if you don’t have any aims to be able to ever afford those beautiful things. Simply being near them and observing them provides all you need. In fact, research has confirmed that beautiful sights and objects have therapeutic benefits, fulfilling your need for pleasure. Moreover, beauty ignites the relaxation response and spatial awareness.
So, the next time you’re in New York City, be sure to take a long walk on Madison Avenue. However, in the meantime—or even if you never plan on visiting The Big Apple—take a walk on your favorite street in your city or hometown, and enjoy all the beauty it has to offer.
I just bet it’s waiting for you to notice.
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