Becoming My Parents (And Other Simple Pleasures)

I pulled up to the gas station the other day and the sign read $4.19 a gallon. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh, cry, or celebrate. The price of gas has been up, it’s been down, and frankly, I never really know what to expect anymore. It seems to fluctuate based entirely on whatever mood the morning news cycle is in.

But with all this talk about skyrocketing prices of everyday essentials like gas, eggs, and milk and spiraling inflation, I’ve noticed a disturbing medical development: I have officially mutated into my parents.

They were absolute sticklers for a good deal. And now? I’m right there with them, muttering under my breath about the price of electricity and turning off lights in empty rooms. I’ve developed a deep, soulful appreciation for things that are criminally undervalued. Here are a few of them. See if you agree with me:

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—Good service. I’ll gladly pay a premium if I know you actually care and are looking out for my best interests. If a garage fixes my car without trying to strip me of my retirement savings, I am theirs for life. Going the extra mile might cost a business in the short term, but it pays back twice over in customer loyalty. It’s a wild concept called “long-term business strategy,” but what do I know?

—Indoor Plants. They’re a little slice of sanity—literally just bringing a bit of nature inside the house to remind us the outside world still exists.

—Warm sheets. Especially fresh out of the dryer. Pure luxury.

—A hot shower. The only place on earth where nobody can ask you for something or send you an email. The ultimate daily reset button.

—A good step stool. Look, I love a sturdy stool that helps you conquer heights you have no business reaching. The average height for adult men worldwide is approximately 5 feet 7.5 inches. I’m firmly in that ballpark. Granted, that makes me “short” by US standards, where the average sits around 5 feet 9 inches. But hey, height is relative, and a dependable step stool is the great equalizer.

—Clean clothes. Nobody appreciates them until they’re sniffing a shirt from the “maybe” pile on the chair. Simple, understated, and unbeatable.

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—A breathtaking view. Those massive mountains and endless beaches that force us to stop dead in our tracks, stare blankly, and remember that there is so much more to life than our daily to-do lists.

—Keep on walking. Free weights, upper-body machines, and leg presses get all the flashy gym glory and expensive memberships, but walking is where the real magic happens. Walking is often overlooked, but has been found to be highly effective for our long-term health. It reduces the risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Plus, it requires zero monthly subscription fees and helps with weight management. One step in front of the other.

—Thank-you notes. A lost art form that instantly brightens someone’s day.

—Clean, clear glasses. I know I’ve ranted about this before, but it’s a hill I am willing to die on. Trying to navigate the complexities of modern life through a greasy fingerprint smudge is too much to bear. Science—let’s get cracking. We need lenses that stay smudge-free. Hell, we need laser eye surgery that works for everyone and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

—The internet. The “young’uns” in the audience won’t remember this, but I vividly recall the dark ages when it didn’t exist. I remember the agony of unanswered questions. Today, if I’m watching TV, I can automatically spiral down a beautiful rabbit hole: Which movie did Leonardo DiCaprio finally win an Academy Award for? Who else was in it? When is his next project dropping? I get answers in three seconds. In 1990? I might never get those answers unless I dedicated my life to tracking Hollywood trade magazines. Oh, how times have changed.

—A dark blue sky and bright sun. Good old Vitamin D. Just don’t bake yourself into a crisp, because skin care is also undervalued.

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Maybe Our Parents Weren’t Crazy After All

Ultimately, noticing these things makes me realize that my parents weren’t actually scrooges; they were just onto something. In a world that wants to charge you $4.19 a gallon just to commute to a place that sells $7 coffee, the best things in life really are the ones that don’t show up on a credit card statement.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I see a light left on in the hallway, and I need to go yell at nobody in particular about the utility bill.

Are you the same way? What’s something that you value so much more now?