Chocolate and Other Treats

This week is National Chocolate Week in the UK. The mere mention of this fact is enough to bring a smile to many people's lips, especially for the ladies amongst us. Even if we rarely eat it, the thought of chocolate is a treat, a joy, synonymous with pleasure, reward, indulgence.

Let's think of some other treats that bring a smile into our lives:

- Clean sheets are, for many people a real treat. The thought of lovely fresh bedding makes bedtime even more pleasurable. Why not add a few drops of lavender to the final rinse cycle and make the experience all the more beneficial.

- An Autumn walk in the park, wrapped up warm and cozy can bring exercise, fresh air and a sense of really being alive into the day. It's so easy to think about going for a walk - another time. Decide to do it now, possibly with family or friends and enjoy the treat of going for a lovely Autumn walk.

- Use your slow cooker or put a casserole in the oven and while the meal's cooking play board games, cards, jig-saws, handicrafts with friends and family. You've probably got a cupboard full of boxed games. Dust them off and enjoy an afternoon or evening playing games with each other, enjoying each other's company, really talking to each other again.



- Flowers are an inexpensive way to treat yourself. Put them in the hall, kitchen, bathroom, somewhere unexpected, so that you smile when you see them.

- Have a lovely bath. Many of us have to get ready quickly in the morning or are have little time to change to go out in the evenings, so a shower is often the fastest option. Give yourself a treat and have a leisurely bath. Use your lovely bath salts, oils and lotions and luxuriate for a while. Pamper yourself, maybe with a mug of hot chocolate, and relax.

- Use candles. How many of us have lots of beautiful scented candles that we've received as gifts but keep on saving for a special occasion. Decide now is the time for that special occasion and give yourself a lovely perfumed treat of your lovely candles.

- Music is a pleasure for many people. Remind yourself of some of your favourite records, CD's, music and enjoy the treat of revisiting your favourite music from the past. Perhaps invite friends round and have a regular musical occasion, each one picking an artist, era, genre in turn.

- Photographs too can be a treat. Taking time to look through old albums, laugh, cry, remember people, places, events can be a poignant treat and lovely to do sometimes.

All these treats are free or inexpensive ways to take time for yourself and have some quality 'me' time. Many of these treats can be successfully combined with a bar of chocolate. Enjoy!

Susan Leigh is a long established counsellor and hypnotherapist who works with clients to help with relationship conflict, stress, assertiveness and confidence issues. She works with individual, clients, couples and in corporate situations.

Her book 'Dealing with Death - Coping with the pain' is a self help book dealing with loss, grief and endings in many different life situations. The loss of a loved person, animal, relationship, career is a devastating blow that this book helps the reader work through.

To order a copy or for more information, help and free articles visit http://www.lifestyletherapy.net Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Leigh Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7324199