Don't Save Things for 'Best', Enjoy our Nice Stuff Even in Quarantine

Unless the COVID-19 pandemic is handled remarkably well in your area, like most people whose birth dates happened to fall during the earlier months of 2020, we'll probably celebrate our birthday in lockdown or quarantine. My birthday was on May 5th and like most people who have achieved milestones (like passing the 2019 Bar and Physician Board Exams, congrats!) or simply celebrating another orbit on this planet, we are limited in the ways we celebrate our personal victories.

Since most of our lives and plans are at a standstill while this pandemic is ongoing, it might feel downright silly to dress to the nines like you’re going somewhere. You needn’t be going anywhere just to look good and feel good. It might be a hard truth to acknowledge, but most of us would honestly never go out wearing something that makes us look like we haven’t showered in weeks. So unless we are really required to go out, we’re all indefinitely stuck at home. But, even if there’s no one to see it, it's perfectly fine to use our 'best'. In fact, that's exactly what we need to do.

Save for best

Most of my family members have lived through World War 2. Some of my family members had a prevailing sentiment of 'save for best'. Using the best china when there are visitors - colleagues, friends, relatives. And wearing perfume, makeup, clothes on special occasions only. That was a time when luxuries were scarce, so they’re only used when it truly counts. Luxuries boost morale, which is why we stock it until we deem such a time would be the ‘best’ occasion for it.

But we can only stock so much: attires and garments could break down or be eaten by insects; fine china and porcelain could break unexpectedly despite rarity of use; make-up and perfume expire; leather shoes left unworn and untreated could fall apart.

Until my great-grandmother, just 4 months shy of 94, passed in 2016, my family did this too. Then, her daughters realized that while we’ve been using our ‘best’ for a while even before their mother passed, we haven’t been using them enough. The grandkids (me included) have all grown up not to break the fine china when washing them. So they decided, (‘why not?’) we should alternately use all the sets that we have.

When you can or you want to, don’t feel guilty or silly by indulging yourself with what you think will make you feel the best - whether you’re with your loved ones or alone in quarantine - you do you. That’s the best.

Tomorrow is not promised, use your best

‘Saving for best’ is being frugal and or practical; there’s nothing wrong with that. But as doom, gloom, and general uncertainty are more apparent now than ever, why not use what you save for best to feel the best?

There needn’t be special occasions for you not to use that Korean moisturizing face mask, or wear that lipstick, those fine china you reserve for guests and special occasions. Those curtains that you only bring out once a year. Crack open your stash of nice things and use them! We’ll all be stuck at home for an indefinite amount of time. Make it look and feel the best, even when there will be no other people to see and appreciate it.

Often we are caught up in showmanship. The same can especially be said to our generation so deeply entrenched in social media. Sharing with everyone the best that we have is undoubtedly a good thing. It boosts our morale and others’ too. Even if it’s showing off. So why can’t we extend the same grace and hospitality to ourselves as we do to others?

If this unfortunate and unprecedented outbreak taught me anything - it’s learning to celebrate all the good things on my own even when there’s no one else to witness or take part in it. My lolas (grandmothers) would often say that tomorrow is not promised. The last thing we wear could be our ghost outfit. They have a point; I know I’d rather be a pretty ghost. Often, looking our best would feel like an obligation to feel confident in fulfilling the roles we have to do in a social setting. Now that those are limited, one could argue that there’s no reason for it anymore. But I disagree.

When you can or you want to, don’t feel guilty or silly by indulging yourself with what you think will make you feel the best - whether you’re with your loved ones or alone in quarantine - you do you. That’s the best.

Stay safe everyone, and see you when this is all over.