Treats

Who doesn’t love a treat? Just a little something to get you through the day. Maybe it’s that iced chocolate almond milk shaken espresso (light chocolate malt powder) you pick up curbside at your local Starbucks because swirling that tasty beverage like Nancy Botwin from Weeds just makes you feel good. Maybe it’s a little snacky. A salty bag of Pop Corners or some little granola bites; there’s something about a tasty little snack that’s really a delight. Some may say that connecting food to happiness is problematic but I would like them to please be quiet and leave the snacks out of this and allow us some joy. Maybe it’s a trip to Target where the vibes are immaculate or some online browsing. Whatever your treat preference is I would like to give you some very good news. These little indulgences are actually helping us cope with the current dystopia. In the wake of all of the uncertainty brought along by Covid there is something to be said for a guaranteed good thing. We had to cancel so many things for so long that this treat-forward approach is one way people are reclaiming some of the freedom and stability that has been lost since early 2020. TREAT FORWARD! Write that down! When anyone questions your treat habit tell them you simply adhere to a treat forward lifestyle. When we allow ourselves these treats it helps us handle the fact that the world is a garbage fire. So many people have been thinking and writing about the positive results that come from treats that it now has a name: treat culture. 

Something about treat culture is that you’re always regularly going to get the treat. You can depend on that, at least. There’s a guarantee that this small little ritual that you have every week will at least satiate something in you.

Perhaps the best description I saw of treat culture was calling it poor man’s hedonism. For those of you who aren’t philosophy nerds, hedonism is an approach to life in which your only concern is maximizing your pleasure and minimizing your pain. Derived from the Greek word for “pleasure,” a common depiction of hedonism is Dionysus (aka Bacchus). He was the  Olympian god of wine, pleasure, festivity, madness and wild frenzy. Krewe of Bacchus puts on an annual parade at Mardi Gras. You get the idea. It’s unhinged indulgence. But here we are with our little treats. Our own little, teeny snippets of pleasure.

According to Dr. Paul Bloom a psychology professor at the University of Toronto and Yale, that hedonistic life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. He thinks that unless we experience some pain in life we can’t appreciate the good stuff. That living meaningful lives has to come with some pain to make us grow. He is probably right but there is something pretty appealing about just embracing the most Bacchanalian version of yourself every once in a while. Bloom has written a lot of interesting books if you are into learning about morality, pleasure, art, and some other fun stuff.

This is called the Triumph of Bacchus by Diego Velázquez. It is also known as Los Borrachos (the drunks) and is often cited as a great example of hedonism. There are other similar paintings around the same time (1620s) depicting parties that look far more interesting than these gentlemen.

Treats make us feel something and they come in many shapes and sizes. In discussions I have seen, some people point to treats as just another way for us to contribute to that golden arrow of Capitalism* and that we are creating a treat industrial complex (that phrase actually made me LOL). But not all treats have to be purchased! Treats can be something totally free like walking away from your email for a bit, doing some stretches, or doing absolutely nothing. I saw an article the other day that really highlights where we can find these (free) little treats. They call it “joy snacking.” I love that! The idea is to focus on the little things in your normal life that bring you joy. A catch up phone call with a friend, eating a favorite food (#sourdough), watching a good show. None of these things are extraordinary but when we  mindfully tune into the pleasant, nice and sometimes routine experiences of every day, we can transform an otherwise mundane moment into something more meaningful and even joyful. That is delightful to think about. Researchers are even finding that noticing and savoring these little joy snacks is a way to cultivate a meaningful life and that joy fosters connection and is linked to subjective well-being. Additionally, it seems joy is great for us as individuals and it is also great for our relationships.  

I think the idea that we can turn the normal stuff into a joyful little treat makes everything feel just a tad bit better. But how do we do that? Well, it turns out our good (yet often elusive) friend mindfulness is a big part of making it happen. But it’s not just being mindful, there are other things you can do to help cultivate joy in your life. You can practice gratitude or self-compassion. You can treat yourself or treat someone else. The benefits are real. These treats improve our mental health and help us be more focused. It’s positive reinforcement! We are all just basically adorable puppies. 

I would be remiss if I did not give credit to the founders of treat culture: Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle from Parks and Recreation.** Their annual day of indulgence spawned a zillion memes and I am thankful for them all. Friends, total bummer and OG Debbie Downer Thomas Hobbes famously said that the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short so by all means, please find your joy snacks and don’t forget to Treat Yo Self!

*I have a lot to say about Capitalism. Mainly that “the free market” doesn't correct for ethical lapses and corporate wrongdoing. The free market is not some all knowing deity focused on making the world a better place for all. The free market is a thing in the same way a unicorn is a thing. Fun to think about, doesn’t actually exist. 🦄
**Parks and Rec was a truly fantastic show and if you know me then you know I love me some Leslie Knope (please enjoy these quotes).