The False Economy of Settling for Less

American women who settle for less than what they really want aren't doing themselves (or anyone else) any favors.

American women fall for eating Hostess or Snackwell cakes (which they perceive to be cheaper and/or healthier) when they really want an indulgent brownie made with real butter, real sugar, and real dark chocolate. The problem with this is that one of those little cakes is never enough. (Believe me, I've tried, and ended up eating half a box!)

Mireille Guiliano expressed this concept very well in her book, French Women Don't Get Fat

The premise of her book is that American women, in particular, need to slow down, acknowledge their needs, ask for what they really want, and indulge occasionally without making everything a to-the-death fight between puritanical self-sacrifice vs. overindulgence. This should be a balance, not a battle. Our little treats should make us feel great, not guilt-ridden!

If you go for quality rather than quantity, you can enjoy your occasional, small, exquisite, real brownie with a clear conscience.

The same goes for clothes - we American women tend to go to the Outlet Stores and armloads of "suitable" or "practical" clothes at 70% of retail, rather than that one really well-made, high-quality, perfect-for-you suit that you can have tailored with the money you saved from your outlet shopping trip. The women getting back from the Outlet malls now have a closet full of stuff, but nothing to wear, while the women who bought the suit she feels marvelous in can wear it anywhere with a slight change of accessories and feel really great about how she looks.

American women have gotten too used to settling. It's okay to buy eat a great brownie, buy a great suit, and really enjoy life. It's taken me awhile to come to this conclusion.

If you go for quality rather than quantity, you won't feel the need to eat 12 brownies (vs. a week of Slimfast bars and water for lunch) or to go on a huge shopping binge (vs. pinching pennies for months at a time.) If you stay balanced, you don't need to battle. And you have better things to spend your energy on!

AUTHOR:	Jessie Belle Rittenhouse (1869–1948)
QUOTATION:	I bargained with Life for a penny, And Life would pay no more, However I begged at evening When I counted my scanty store; For Life is a just employer, He gives you what you ask, But once you have set the wages, Why, you must bear the task. I worked for a menial’s hire, Only to learn, dismayed, That any wage I had asked of Life, Life would have paid.

In the words of the L'Oreal (Paris, of course) ads, "You're Worth It!"