As I sit here thinking about the luxury items I have in life. The everyday luxury items, ones we might take for granted. I catch myself saying, “I can live without all of those things.” So here I am, thinking deeper.

What is a luxury, really?

When I asked Google, it told me luxury is “the state of great comfort and extravagant living.” That made me pause. Because if that’s true, then luxury becomes entirely subjective. What one person might see as a luxury, another might see as normal—or even unnecessary.

I don’t know why I feel the need to justify where I’m coming from. Even as I type this, I’m not exactly sure what my final answer is. (Why does this feel like a spelling bee where I’m judged on every word and thought?)

AI defined luxury a little differently—as “something that provides pleasure or comfort but is not essential to life.” And somehow, that resonates more. Not needed, but deeply appreciated. Something that elevates the everyday. That brings joy, ease, or comfort—but won’t kill you if it’s missing.

So after sitting with that definition, I think I have my answer.

A nice, cozy bed.

I don’t need it to be alive, but sleep is essential to my well-being. And the quality of that sleep? Hugely impacted by comfort. If I didn’t have a bed that wrapped me up at the end of a long day, that made me feel safe and supported, I think life would feel a little harder. More stressful. A little less gentle.

And isn’t that what luxury is? Even if it’s an everyday luxury, it’s still a luxury we take for granted sometimes.

The softening of life’s edges. The thing that makes the hard days more bearable. The little detail that reminds you: you’re allowed to rest.

And let’s talk about rest for a moment—because it’s more than just a feel-good bonus. It’s foundational. According to the CDC, sleep plays a vital role in our mental, emotional, and physical health. Poor sleep is linked to chronic conditions like heart disease, depression, and obesity. Quality rest supports memory, mood regulation, immune function, and even helps us make better decisions.

I could (and should) write about my experiences with functioning on a lack of sleep. But in short, it makes me feel so sick to be tired. I feel like I’m running on empty—like everything takes twice as much effort and offers half as much joy. My patience thins. My body aches. And emotionally? I feel like I’m not even really there. Just floating through.

So while a bed may not be a necessity in the strictest sense, it’s hard to argue against its value when it supports something as essential as sleep.

No, I don’t need silk sheets or a Pinterest-perfect bedroom. But give me a bed I can sink into. A place that holds me, quietly, while I recharge.

That, to me, is a luxury I wouldn’t want to live without.

Now I’m curious—what’s something you could live without, but really, really wouldn’t want to?