Friday Musings: I love Staying in Hotels. Do you?
By: Aldric Chen
Tags: Mental Health, Philosophy, Self Love, Me, Short Story

Amidst an entire host of reasons that could encapsulate flexible sleep schedule, butler services, the gym, the pool, the spa — There is so much more.

1. I need an Emotional Anchor.

Staying with family can mean merging different routines, preferences and sometimes that means the biggest muscle usually wins. It doesn’t have to even have to be based on financial muscle. So long as the conversation is geared towards filial piety or the young should do this and that — I cannot escape.

The point is, I want to escape.

I try my best to play my role and I get washed out after a couple of days. No matter how big that house is, it can start to feel small. My own hotel room feels exactly the reverse. It is physically small but emotional big. It feels like a base camp where I can relax, read, exercise, channel flick, work till as late as I want as long as I want.

Most importantly, I need not sweat over the small things or made to sweat over the small things such as cleaning the table, wiping the kitchen sink dry, picking up the hair or dust.

A call to the Housekeeping does the trick.

Expensive? No, it is relative.

I am willing to pay my way out of this.

So, it is cheap.

I can be me and feels emotionally comforting to be me.

2. I need to Engage … Me.

With a hotel room, I need not hope for hope.

I am free to read and nap at the pool with water melon juice as I want to. Sometimes my schedule for swimming and running gets thrown out of the window as there are family obligations such as preparing for dinners, cleaning the house, disposing the rubbish, unwilling volunteering of time for grocery shopping and what not.

Here, there are no such distractions.

I get to go run around the vicinity first and jump straight into the pool for laps. I can then get back to the room for food via room service. All activities are geared towards my satisfaction.

There is nothing happier than that.

I can read at the balcony, in the blanket wraps and at the restaurant with a cup of coffee. There are happy hospitality agents willing to keep me happy and going so they can have a customer to sign their loyalty programs.

Most importantly, I need not worry for any drip of sweat or drop of coffee heading in any direction. I can focus on engaging me.

3. From Home Zone to JUDGMENT-FREE Zone.

My bed can be unmade.

I can throw wet towels into the bathtub.

I can leave the empty plates and glasses in my room.

I can forget to place the remote controller where the television is.

I can forget to hang my clothes.

I can leave my bag all over, my books all over.

The beautiful part?

No one bugs me about it.

Another brilliant point?

It is neat when I am back. Maybe I get cursed when I press the housekeeping button on my way to office. Maybe that is why I get sneezes perpetually when I am out for sightseeing. Maybe.

The happy thing is I get to do what I need to; avoid to do what I don’t want to and can be spared from judgment.

Utterly beautiful.

Oh, would you please iron, wash and press my clothes for me before tomorrow morning 7am?

Thank you.

(With my brightest smile, squeezing a dimple)