The Fun of a Little Upgrade

As an Enneagram One, I love a gift guide. I like to get things right, and lists of the “right” gift to get a certain type of person can be helpful. (Even if they are often extraordinarily out of my budget. Who are the people buying $350 throw blankets for their third cousins?) But I once stumbled across a gift guide based on Enneagram type that gave me a new insight into myself as an Enneagram One.

Enneagram Ones tend to be perfectionists. We like to get things right and have things be right. So, the guide suggested, the best thing to get an Enneagram One tends to be…something they already have.

Now, this can come in a few different forms. If there’s a consumable product you know an Enneagram One in your life loves, a refill is always appreciated. But getting an Enneagram One something they already have can also come in the form of an upgrade. Given that we want things to be perfect, an item that is closer to that (impossible) standard is a treat. And, I would argue, any Enneagram type can appreciate a little upgrade, especially of something they use every day. Here are a few of my favorites I’ve received over the years, and some items I’m thinking about upgrading soon.

Kitchen Gadgets

I got married in 2008, and at the time, many of the “adult” kitchens I was in (e.g. my friends’ parents’ kitchens) were straight out of Tuscany. I had no idea what my style was and dutifully filled my Bed Bath & Beyond registry with items that might help me recreate this look on my early-20s budget in my tiny apartment kitchen. As it turns out, this is not at all my style, but many of the items remained serviceable. I am cheap, so we kept them.

But one year for Christmas, my husband bought me a trivet. Now, this is a gutsy present. But I’d been using an elaborate cast iron one for years (think this). It got the job done, but it wasn’t my style at all. He replaced it with a sleek gold one (more like this). And I loved it! Every time I pull it out, I appreciate that he got me a “better” version of something I already had.

Other opportunities for little upgrades in the kitchen include a cute new set of Swedish dishcloths (I tend to keep mine way too long) and glass storage containers. I held out way too long before spending $15 to revolutionize my fridge and cabinet storage with turntables. And what Enneagram One wouldn’t love to upgrade their under-the-sink organization with a drawer rack?

Books

I love books and reading. And I am perfectly content to get books from the library, from thrift stores, or used from AbeBooks. But I do love a beautiful hardback. And publishers are catching on to these opportunities to market classics with pretty covers. I tried to limit myself to just Pride and Prejudice, one of my favorite books, of which I currently have 15 copies, including this, this, and this.

I also have a lot of beat-up paperback classics from my time as an English major. And I love being reminded of my college days. But because I also love pretty books, the Penguin Clothbound Classics collection is pretty irresistible to me. I tried to start with just Pride and Prejudice. But then I decided they could totally serve as décor. I’ve been building my collection slowly, and I like to watch for the boxed sets to go on sale. Yes, I have a copy of Bleak House from college. But it looks like this. Upgrading it to a Clothbound Classic when I reread it as part of From the Front Porch’s Conquer a Classic challenge was way more fun.

Clothes

I’m still mad about this one because I did in fact upgrade to the perfect pair of slippers that filled my Enneagram One heart with joy every time I wore them. And then I wore them out. They are no longer perfect, but I have yet to find an acceptable replacement. (Boden, if you’re reading this, please bring them back!) This winter, it’s going to be time to upgrade the upgrade.

Socks are another area where a little upgrade can make a big difference. My little millennial heart was very skeptical of LETTING MY SOCKS SHOW, but I got a pack of these ankle socks to try, and Gen Z might be on to something. Turns out it’s easier to work out and walk around Disney when you aren’t having to stop and tug your sock halfway up your heel every 45 minutes.

(Speaking of walking around Disney, I upgraded to these for my park shoes, and they are SO COMFORTABLE. The Mickey heads are actually more subtle than I would like personally, but that means I can get away with wearing them anywhere I need to do a lot of walking.)

Gear

I loved babywearing with my first two babies. I had an Ergobaby carrier that overall, I really liked. It felt sturdy and secure. But it had one issue: I could never reach the back strap to buckle it myself. This was fine when my husband was with me. But if I wanted to go get groceries on my own, I had to either keep a hand on baby at all times or ask an unsuspecting stranger for help.

So when I had my third baby, even though my carrier was still perfectly good, I registered for an Ergobaby Embrace Carrier. No more annoying back strap! I loved this cozy carrier and was so glad I upgraded.

Speaking of annoying things (how’s that for a segue?), I recently sent my earbuds through the washing machine. I have a backup pair, but they don’t have the option to pause from the earbud itself; I have to go back to my phone. And that’s not great if I have a kid coming to ask me something every three minutes. So I decided to “upgrade” from my backup pair and replace the pair I washed since I’d been happy with them (they were, indeed, an upgrade when I first got them). I will point out that they claim to be waterproof, but that did not extend to a trip through my washing machine. Nevertheless, I like the pretty blue color and the fact that they are cheap enough that replacing them if they do go for a swim isn’t the end of the world.

Upgrades I’m Hoping to Make

I desperately need some new cutting boards. I have been using the same thin plastic ones for years now, and I’m sure my body is 10% microplastics by this point. The problem is, I’m VERY picky about the feel of wood. (My husband got me a really nice wooden cutting board that I have to handle with oven mitts. We all have our quirks.) And I’m skeptical about glass. But I also think the plastic isn’t a great choice. If you have an upgrade suggestion, let me know in the comments!

I’ve also been relying on my actual Kindle more in an effort to reduce my phone time. I don’t mind reading on my phone, but it’s entirely too easy to intend to read and end up on Instagram instead. I bought my Kindle used from my cousin before I had my middle kid, who’s now 7, and I’m not sure how long my cousin had it before then. It’s held up well, all things considered, but it is starting to get a little buggy. Plus, we only have one charger in the house that fits it.

I’m assuming Kindle technology has improved in the last 7+ years. And even if I just get a basic model, it would be fun to have a prettier one, like this Matcha option. I don’t think I need to upgrade all the way to a color display option, but let me know in the comments if I’m wrong about that. Given how often I’m using my Kindle these days, an upgrade would probably make my reading experience more fun.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” That’s wise advice for us Enneagram Ones. But sometimes I need to not let the good (enough) be the enemy of the perfect. Upgrading an item that’s good enough can be a lot of fun. Now if I could just get my hands (er, feet) on some awesome new slippers.

Do you enjoy a little upgrade? What’s the best gift for your Enneagram type? Do you have a cutting board that you love? Let me know in the comments—I love hearing from you!

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