When we think of the word "pamper" we perhaps envision baby diapers or a Shih Tzu with painted pink toenails. Those visions, however scary, do not properly define the term. As I dabble in it more and more, I find the art of pampering to mean anything that makes you feel comfortable...feel downright good.

This topic came to me as I sat to type in my brand new Samsonite Ergonomic Fabric Air Seat. Whew, what a title. Fortunately sitting here is much easier than remembering the name. When I sampled this chair at Staples, I could barely bring myself to stand back up it was so cozy. It’s one of those chairs where, the instant you sit down, you emit a lengthy, elongated sigh of absolute pleasure. One of these: "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." You then remain seated in unblemished bliss for seven years or until you need the bathroom, whichever comes first.

This, my friends, is pampering. And the buck doesn’t stop there. Big Joe, an early New York "instructor" of mine who taught me much about life in the big city, used to always say: "If your feet hurt, Ryn, your whole body hurts." So vice versa must also be true. You can really pamper yourself with the right kind of shoes. My friend favors Aerosols; I just got a pair of the infamous Doctor Scholl’s. For fear of lapsing into a product placement column over here, let’s just suffice it to say you need shoes that not just fit but envelope. Caress. Surround your feet as if it were your soul. I now have three and a half pairs I deem my "Heaven Shoes," "Heaven Shoes Junior" and "Heaven Shoe the Third, (Esquire)." The "half pair" remains on probation for a week as I ascertain if it credits "Heaven Shoe" status.

Pampering by no means has to be limited to your home. While on my perpetual shoe binge, which has been in place since the pink sneaker episode back in March, I happened upon another wonderful item of footwear. Black fuzzy slippers. Now I already have these in zebra stripe and baby blue but I thought that might be a tad too ridiculous for work where I tend to take my shoes off. The solid black, however, I can get away with. Besides, they better match the leopard print throw rug I brought in for beneath my desk which, in turn, matches the style of my artwork I have propped around the work area in strategic places.

You gotta feel good where you are. Surround yourself with things that you love. This, too, is pampering.

Your choice of pamper-ish decor can be bold, old, indifferent or, by some standards, even ugly. As long as it makes you feel good. I remember reading an article that insisted you do not have to decorate using a schema, plan or even a color wheel (just make sure it’s Feng Shui friendly). Choose what pleases you, no matter if it "matches" or not. This explains my leopard print juxtaposed with tiger rug and pukey gold Salvation Army couch. And I’m still not sure how table with secret compartments that was donated from a psychic and dropped on my toe works out so well.

"Treating yourself like a precious object will make you strong." This quote I had propped on my kitchen table for many a moon, reminding myself to be kind to that person I cannot escape -- myself. In some twisted way, I used to even feel GUILTY for pampering myself...as if I did not deserve it. Heck, when I was ready to buy the chair, false rationalization came in to tell me I was not buying it for pleasure alone -- something many of us had been taught is somewhat "sinful." So I told myself the chair will make me write more. Now this is a load of mad cow manure -- you will write if you want to write, regardless if you are perched on an ergonomic chair or slumped on concrete (although the slumping makes it hard to see the page). I bought the chair because it made me feel good!