There’s a quote that’s been floating around the Internet for years now. Every time it’s shared, it’s quickly reposted, re-shared, and liked over and over again. I’ve even posted it myself.
The viral quote is simple and goes like this:
“6 luxuries in life:
1. time
2. health
3. a quiet mind
4. slow mornings
5. meaningful work
6. a house full of love.”
It’s not hard to see why the quote resonates. It speaks of things universally understood to be important and meaningful, but not necessarily enjoyed by everyone.
If luxury is defined as “a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort,” these six things describe it well.
But there is something about that list I think about every time I see it. None of those six items are for sale. And they never have been.
And yet, we live in a world that tries to convince us the luxuries of life are something to be purchased.
It seems almost every day of our lives, we’re flooded with messages designed to sell us a counterfeit version of “luxury.” A nicer house, a newer phone, an extravagant vacation, a limited-edition sneaker, a fragrance that promises to make the opposite sex swoon.
The messaging is so good and so ubiquitous, the items they sell slowly, over time, become our definition of luxury. They’re shiny, exciting, gratifying (at least for a moment), and desired by so many, that they begin to feel like the greatest expression of a life of abundance.
But as we know from experience, that feeling is quick to fade—always leaving us wanting more.
And I don’t know about you, but if there is a version of luxury that doesn’t fade, that is what I would like to devote my life pursuing! Based on the viral nature of the list above, I am confident I’m not alone.
Of course, one of the reasons a counterfeit version of luxury is purchased by so many is because it appears easier to attain than the truer, longer-lasting luxury.
These luxuries—quiet minds, slow mornings, meaningful work—are not easy to find. They require time, attention, self-examination. They require intention, hard decisions, and sometimes even hard conversations. They also require us to live differently than the culture around us.
It’s easy to fill a shopping cart. It’s harder to ask: What do I really want from this one life I’ve been given? And what changes do I need to make to discover it?
The world offers us counterfeits because they’re easier to manufacture, easier to market and sell, easier to accept, and easier to profit from.
A scented candle in a jar is easier than fostering peace in a chaotic household. A perfectly staged brunch is easier than carving out an hour of meaningful connection. A bigger paycheck is easier than the hard work of finding work that matters. And it is easier to buy a trip to Disneyland than it is to build a life of habits that supports long-lasting health.
Still, while these deeper luxuries may not be easy to attain, they are not entirely outside our reach either.
Time, health, a quiet mind, slow mornings, meaningful work, and a home full of love—these things may not be guaranteed, and they may not come quickly. But they are not as far outside our control as we sometimes assume.
And just like everything else, the first step to making these truths a reality is believing they are possible:
We gain more time by choosing what matters and letting go of what doesn’t.
We protect our health with small, consistent steps in the right direction.
We quiet our minds by limiting noise, both external and internal.
We enjoy slower mornings when we stop overpacking our days (and maybe waking up a bit earlier).
We move toward meaningful work by paying attention to our gifts and values and appreciating the value of it.
We foster love in our homes not with perfection, but with presence.
Of course, not every life circumstance is within our control. Life brings hardship, and some seasons are harder than others. But more often than we realize, our lives reflect the things we choose to pursue. And while we can’t control everything that happens to us, we can always control how we respond.
So let’s choose well.
Let’s define luxury differently than the world around us. Let’s stop chasing what’s temporary and start pursuing what lasts. Let’s live a life rich in meaning, not rich in things.
Because the greatest luxuries in life cannot be bought at a store. But they can be built. One thoughtful, intentional decision at a time.
