“What’s one thing that makes you feel rich that doesn’t cost any money?”

A podcast I used to listen to would always ask “what’s one thing that makes you feel rich that doesn’t cost any money?”

Often the person being interviewed would answer “spending time with friends or family.” “Alone time.” “Going for a walk.” Etc. (This is not an essay about how expensive time is, but maybe one day.)

I always wondered how I would answer that question.

Ultimately I came to the conclusion that my answer would probably be “using what I already have.” I feel so taken care of by my past self when I have exactly what I need on hand. I feel so creative and resourceful when I find the perfect unexpected solution to a problem using what I already have. And while everything at my fingertips costs something somewhere along the value chain (just like time does) they don’t cost money in the moment.

But as I look ahead to the rest of my evening and remembering my morning I might have a new contender for my answer: sitting with coffee or tea and a book. Bookending the day with quiet reading.

This evening, I’m picking up where I left off this morning. The hero has just finished gossiping with the cook in the kitchen and is being escorted upstairs to meet the head of the household who she is convinced is hiding a vampire in the attic.

It is all ridiculous! And I am so excited to find out what happens. (Plus it’s a library book, so I’ll either finish this evening or keep wondering.)

I have decreed my to-do list done for the day. I have an hour or so before I really need to go to bed, a mug of tea is by my side, and for at least a moment, I get to flip pages instead of scroll and follow a story instead of a sound bite.

And that is a special kind of luxury.

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