As I was writing a reflection prompt for a forthcoming e-book, I went to use the word luxuriate. I paused before typing and went to look at the definition. There were two:
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* to enjoy oneself without stint; revel
* to grow fully or abundantly; thrive
The reason I checked the definition is because I have done a fair amount of critical thinking about the concept of luxury in my lifetime. It started in my 20s when I was writing about fashion. Luxury labels were seen as the pinnacle of success, as they still are today. Throughout my time in that industry, sustainable fashion became a point of interest to me. I could appreciate the aesthetic artistry of clothing, but I couldn’t ignore the environmental impact the fashion industry made, specifically the amount of waste and harm that luxury brands were responsible for in the name of exclusivity. This made me more critical of the concept of luxury in fashion and as the Black Girl Luxury movement gained traction over the last few years, I began wondering about the philosophy of luxury.
The main question I have always had is: can luxury be participated in responsibly? The conclusion I came to is no, it can’t be. I came to this conclusion based on the root of the word luxury which is luxus, a Latin word which translates to excess. Over time, my perspective on what excess is has shifted because as I’ve grown, I have come to understand that what some may think of as excessive or unnecessary may in fact be necessary for someone to live a life of quality and care. For example, someone said that having a doula or a midwife is a luxury and that’s simply not true.
Just because the standard of prenatal care in our society is so low and people are made to think that the only medical care they should have access to is an OBGYN doesn’t mean having a doula is something pregnant people don’t need. In fact, the medical system being structured that way is the reason why birthing people need doulas and midwives. These professions came about because western medicine did not and does not value marginalized birthing people and they still needed quality care. This is why many doulas and midwives offer sliding scale prices for their services to marginalized people.
The truth is, we all deserve more than the bare minimum. There are enough resources on this planet to assure none of us have to operate that way. However, the luxury industry depends on exclusivity. Scarcity must be created in order for people to place a higher value on something (like a Birkin bag) and see it as a luxury item. I’ve seen people create their own definitions of luxury (“luxury is sitting in a bubble bath and putting my phone on DND”, “luxury is being able to spend my time the way I want to”, etc.) and it irked me because I felt like rebranding the word so that it was more accessible robbed people of the opportunity to think critically about how the concept of luxury actually exists in the world and the harm it perpetuates.
That was until I looked up the word luxuriate.
Obviously, this word is related to the word luxury and in the first definition, that energy is there. It’s talking about enjoying yourself without frugality or limits. But then you get to definition number two and you see “to grow fully or abundantly, to thrive”. Other definitions say “to flourish extensively or profusely”. I find this interesting because while there are more definitions that align with excess (“to take voluptuous pleasure, revel”), these are definitions that focus more on growth than decadence (derived from the word decay, in case you’re wondering).
As you grow, you need more. What would have been considered excess when you were 5 was a need by the time you turned 10. To live fully, you must grow. If you’re not growing, you are decaying, this is the nature of life. As you get larger and go farther, your needs expand. You don’t just need to consume more, you also need to contribute more. When an (eco)system is built in such a way that everyone growing can sustain themselves, have a quality life, and give back in proportion to the needs of themselves and others, then luxuriating responsibly is possible.
With that revelation also comes the reality of how irresponsibly many systems are operated. When people in power make greed and domination their focus, we get systemic issues like the ones created by imperialism and colonialism. This guarantees that few get to luxuriate and grow to their full potential while many others are stunted and starved of the opportunity to live a full life.
This is just one example of how people of a certain mindset may view growth and how it can be harmful. As we work to be better versions of ourselves in this world and improve the places where we take up space, it’s important to think critically about how we evolve in a society that normalizes disregarding others as we grow instead of taking care of one another. How do we organize and distribute resources and power so that many are thriving and not just a few?
I found this contemplation helpful as I integrate themes of self-reverence, personal growth, and social responsibility - all of which relate to my spiritual wholeness. I offer this as an opportunity to reflect on how we can bridge these definitions and concepts in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how we move through the world, how we can live fuller lives and help others do the same.
You are welcome to let me know your thoughts on this topic or explore your thoughts and keep them to yourself. Have a great Wednesday and I’ll see you next week.
Peace
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