Why a beautiful scarf counts as self-care

Sometimes taking care of yourself means eating healthy foods, getting enough rest, and exercising regularly. Sometimes it means taking time out to relax, meditate or simply sip a cup of tea in silence. Sometimes it means switching off social media noise, writing your thoughts in a journal, or playing hooky for the afternoon.

But I also believe sometimes it means treating yourself to something lovely, something extravagant, something that is absolutely not essential. For me, the delicious silk scarves I show below, from the Joel Oppenheimer Gallery in Chicago, fit the bill.

At least, that’s how I plan to justify gifting myself something from this inaugural scarf collection called Drawn from Nature, based on renowned works by natural history artists John James Audubon and Dr. Robert John Thornton, whose finely-detailed works depict ornithological and botanical subjects.

Made in the U. S. A. from 100 per cent silk twill, these 36-inch square double-sided scarves are finished with hand-rolled and hand-sewn hems  ($320 USD). As for the colours, just look for yourself.

So back me up here, please; these scarves definitely qualify as self-care, no? After all, doesn’t it just make you feel good to think about draping one around your neck? Could I possibly sneak one by as a (mental) health business expense in my 2020 tax return? A styling prop? I could make a case for either.

Have you ever given your well-deserving self something wonderful but wildly unnecessary? Feel free to spill in the comments.

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