Two kinds of luxury worth considering:
First, is the kind of luxury offered to us by marketers. This luxury is perceived as exclusive, upscale, and usually expensive. It’s also mostly for our benefit or pleasure. Any item or experience can be luxurious – from towels, to automobiles, to hotels and vacations. We can call this, “consumer’s luxury.”
The second kind of luxury is one that we offer to the world. This luxury is opportunistic (in the best ways), productive, uplifting, and usually generous. While it can be for our benefit, this kind of luxury is often for the benefit of others. Most of us can experience this kind of luxury. We can call this, “giver’s luxury.”
Here is the difference between the two: When we have to ask how much more luxury will cost us, we are being marketed some version of consumer’s luxury. But, when we act on an opportunity to be kind, compassionate, empathetic, thoughtful, or generous in any way, we are using some version of giver’s luxury.
We want things and experiences perceived to be consumer’s luxury, at least sometimes. But, we already have giver’s luxury, at least sometimes.
If you can say, “I have the luxury to be generous this holiday season,” let me encourage you to lean fully into that giver’s luxury sentiment. You might find that it makes you feel better than any consumer’s luxury you might obtain.
A timely PS: During this Season of Giving, we should be mindful about gifting consumer luxury items or experiences to our donors as a way to thank them for sharing their giver’s luxury to support our mission.
