Keeping busy to fight materialism

On my way back home recently, I was in an airport waiting for a flight, and happened upon a duty-free outlet. I've never bought anything duty-free - don't need the tobacco or alcohol - but was drawn this time to the perfume. Chanel No. 5, to be exact. So elegant! Spicy but refined. I sprayed my wrist, then walked around sniffing myself for the next 1.5 hours. To buy, or not to buy? Well, if I will buy, better here than at home - I'll save myself who knows how much money. But why buy it? I was overwhelmed by visions of myself at home, delicately spritzing myself before heading out for the evening. Delightful! Perfect! What more do I need to create a new life for myself?

In the end, reality won out. I did not need it. My work environment is fragrance-free. I have an essential oil that I use when I want perfume. And ultimately: a bottle of expensive smelly water will not change my life in any fundamental way.

Once I got back and got busy with life, I realized that life is a lot more exciting and engrossing than trying to make life beautiful in isolation. Which is what I tend to get obsessed with when I have time on my hands. While I still want a beautiful life and home, I'd like to remember that living life is more important than what it looks like.