Guilty pleasures: nothing to prove, everything to gain

I heard a story about a woman who was feeling guilty for binge-watching a “stupid” TV show. A friend then asked her if she’d enjoyed herself, to which the woman replied, “I really did.” I’ve contemplated that conversation many times—mostly when I’m engaging in my own “decadent” pastimes, whether reclining on the sofa with a good book or napping, binge-watching a favorite TV show or indulging in a sweet treat. And I ask myself if I’m having fun. If the answer is yes, then I resume the activity without remorse. If the answer is no, I scream “plot twist” and do something different (which doesn’t happen often). But for some reason, society has labeled productivity as the hallmark of success. Yet there’s that old axiom: You regret the things you didn’t do, not the things you did. Personally, I’m striving for that sweet spot where I have nothing to prove and everything to gain by enjoying life’s guilty pleasures.

How often do you feel guilty when unproductive?

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