Have a Hedonist Holiday!

For a lot of people the word Hedonism seems to conjure up images of
wild Bacchanals with toga-clad guests swilling giant chalices of wine and
engaging in shocking behavior. Sometimes the word has a more commonplace but negative connotation that brings to mind a person who pursues their own enjoyment heedless of the repercussions or effects on those around them.

Browsing through a local bookshop recently, I caught sight of a bright red compact volume called The Hedonism Handbook, Mastering the Lost Arts of Leisure and Pleasure by Michael Flocker. The cover of the book bore vintage illustrations of a cluster of grapes and a flapper-esque lady luxuriating on a chaise lounge in a nightie and enjoying a cigarette in a long elegant holder. Though I have asthma and generally revile smoking, the fact that she was so brazenly savoring her glamorous and carefree repose really appealed to me.

In this smart and very funny book Flocker takes on the American pandemic more perilous than Swine Flu: Workaholism. He points out how so many of us are running so hard in the hamster wheel of all our duties and responsibilities and the pursuit of success, that we never notice that there's no end in sight. You may have heard that one before, but truly, the time to stop and smell those proverbial roses is today, and every day. Just deliberately adding a little personal pleasure into your daily life can lead to more fun, less stress, a happier outlook, and generally being more of a joy to be around. The book takes it a step further with factoids (who knew that those hyper-productive Japanese have 15 days of paid vacation required by law while the US has none!) and practical tips and to help bring out the inner hedonist in everyone.

There is no better time to spice up your life with a little Hedonism than the holiday season. When I think about all the hustle, the hassle, the shopping, the traveling, and entertaining that comes along with "the most wonderful" time of year, I can feel the knots in my back having a family gathering of their own. So this year I'm prescribing myself some pleasure and a pinch of indulgence when I start to hyperventilate with humbug. I'm going to slow down, take a deep breath, take a long walk, get a massage, and offer myself a glass of red wine...and a bon bon or two.