"Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit."
W. Somerset Maugham
Given my devotion to Rules and reliance on habits, my enthusiasm for this idea might be suspect. My defense rests on this. “The Rules create the space so parts of your life are Michelin Five Star, extraordinary and clearing the highest of bars. You get to go all out when it matters- when better is better; and you get to cruise when good is good enough.” Maugham’s quote is pithier than mine, but we’re barking up the same tree. And the root of the matter is this: think before you do. Decide when you need to be exhilarated and when a little deadening isn’t nearly as bad as it might sound.
Splurge, once-in-a-lifetime, whole hog, extravaganza are proxies for excess. And exhilarate, they do. Occasional excess isn’t the problem. A little is good, which doesn’t mean that a lot is better and exhilaration without any restraint is always a problem. Maybe not right away, but always, eventually.
If every meal is whole hog, every shopping trip a splurge, every event an extravaganza and every trip a once-in-a-lifetime- exhilaration becomes the habit. We expect it. We demand it. And that’s when things go haywire.
On occasion means every now and then. Infrequently. Once in a while, so the excess surprises and enlivens. Inherent in endorsing occasional excess, is an implicit endorsement of usually letting enough be enough. Enough uncomplicates life.
I’ll admit that Moderation can be a dull fellow. He usually travels with habits, routines and rules, but he sometimes enjoys the company of Excess to liven things up. Let’s be like Moderation and appreciate that the ease and efficiency of ordinary, make room for the exhilaration of excess.
So what about the dog in a weenie suit? This ridiculous costume is my excess. And it was exhilarating. Pia’s mistress has been hounding me to knit a Halloween hotdog costume for a long time. Seeing this ready-made version opened my eyes to the reality that I was never going to knit a hotdog suit for a Morkie. Halloween is still weeks away, but the fetching outfit was already reduced 40% to make way for turkeys and jingle bells. So I abandoned restraint and I splurged!
A “short leash” is a good default. It makes “off leash” exhilarating. And masquerading as a hotdog…a fine way to go whole hog!