Finding Gratitude in Champagne Problems

It’s the time of year when family gatherings, familiar dynamics, and holiday expectations can trigger even the most grounded among us. In the past, I’d catch myself slipping into the same predictable thought spiral:
Here we go…

This holiday season is going to suck!
But this year, I decided to break the pattern.

Instead of bracing myself for the emotional landmines or asking the typical, surface-level question — “So, how are you doing?” — I wanted a different kind of conversation. A better question. One that opens the door to gratitude, curiosity, and maybe even a little joy.

So, this season, I’m shifting the energy by asking...

What surprise purchase this year changed your perspective on dealing with challenges?
It’s amazing what happens when you invite someone to revisit a moment of delight rather than a moment of overwhelm. People soften. They smile. They remember something unexpected and good.

And for me, that moment came around my birthday.

I walked into the local grocery store for a simple bottle of wine. Nothing fancy. But then I saw it...

Veuve Clicquot Champagne on sale for $40 (normally $60+).

I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed a bottle, practically floated home, and immediately told my friend,
“If you want to get me a birthday gift, Sullivan’s has Veuve Clicquot for forty bucks!”

That little surprise purchase did more than save me twenty dollars. It shifted something in me.

It reminded me that even when life feels full — or heavy — there are still unexpected sparks of joy waiting to be noticed.
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There are still reasons to celebrate. There are still moments where we get to choose humor over tension, magic over frustration, gratitude over grumbling.

That bottle of champagne became a symbol of perspective. A reminder that not every problem is a crisis — some are simply “Champagne problems,” the kind we can soften, lighten, or even laugh about when we zoom out.

We can’t prevent every challenge life hands us, but we can choose how we meet them. Sometimes that means giving ourselves a moment of joy. Sometimes it means changing the question. And sometimes it means turning our troubles into bubbles.

Your Turn...

What was your surprise purchase this year — the one that shifted your perspective, even just for a moment?


If this idea of turning “troubles into bubbles” resonates with you, my upcoming Re-Set, Re-Connect, and Re-Discover Your Creative Passion workshop (below) is the perfect place to explore more ways to shift your energy and reconnect with what inspires you.

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