I have a confession: I’m still obsessed with blind boxes.
You know the ones. Those tiny mystery toys you walk past at Target that completely make you forget you came in for toothpaste. I tell myself it’s “for the aesthetic” or “for my desk,” but let’s be honest. It’s the thrill of not knowing. Will I finally pull the secret edition?

I’ve even gone as far as to set alarms for online drops just to catch the latest restocks of the viral Labubu boxes. I hope you don’t know what these are yet, because it’s become a problem.

But no shame. It’s part strategy, part nostalgia, and honestly, part therapy at this point.

There’s something magical about those little moments when joy comes from the anticipation, not the outcome. It reminds me that deep down, the kid who got excited over pogs and Beanie Babies is still in there somewhere. And honestly, she's thriving.

I feel like a lot of us felt like we had to keep that part of ourselves separate from our professional lives because joy, curiosity, and play didn’t belong in the grown-up version of success.

But I’ve found that those moments when I allow myself to worry about the simple thrill of a blind box actually help me cope with the more complex challenges I face every day. That brief respite feels like a recharge, a way to reset my mind and find balance amid the chaos.

Now, I know there’s a darker take too. These little purchases can seem like feel-good consumerism dressed up as joy. In times of economic instability, spending money on plastic toys is the kind of behavior that headlines warn about. Wasteful, delusional, a distraction.

But in the midst of constant chaos, bad news cycles, and pressure to be endlessly productive, I say if you can find something that sparks real joy, and it doesn’t completely break the bank, why not?

Maybe it’s more than just a break. Choosing to get excited about the unknown surprises ahead instead of fearing them can remind us to approach life and work with a little more wonder and a little less anxiety.

Whether your fill is the ever-elusive blind box, trading cards at a card show, hosting a game night with friends, or the DIY craft adventure, honoring that childlike joy is essential. In the midst of deadlines, meetings, and the nonstop pace of the mortgage world, taking a moment to reconnect with those simple pleasures can be the reset we all need.