There’s an expression that I grew up with and heard very frequently when I lived in New York, but haven’t heard used at all, I don’t think, for the past 28 years (as long as I’ve been on the West Coast). In fact, not until B. said it the other day (he grew up with it too – no surprise) did I realize that I hadn’t heard it in ages. The expression? Just like this.

Not “just like this” as in the sense of demonstrating something, e.g., “Mix the brownies just like this.” Or, “the right way to paint a wall is to use the roller just like this.” Or, “perfect your parallel parking by turning the steering wheel just like this.” This “this” is something entirely different. To wit:

When you buy flowers for your sweetie for no obvious reason, you’ve bought them “just like this.” (And be sure to tell her or him – it will bring an extra kiss. Really.).

When you opt to take off for the beach for the weekend at a moment’s notice because suddenly the fresh, salt air feels like a great idea, you’re doing it “just like this.”

When you decide that only Chinese takeout or pizza will do for dinner even though it’s not the weekend and you’ve got your usual weeknight dinner plan in place, you’re ordering in “just like this.”

“Just like this” can mean “on a whim”; it can be translated as “because it’s Tuesday and why not brighten up the week?”; it can stand in for “because I just feel like it.”

And that’s the best part of this slightly ungrammatical but completely charming expression (the meaning behind it surely isn’t just a New York “thing” – the phrasing, however, seems to be). It stands for those moments when you put aside your pros-and-cons list; when you turn off the clock in your mind but turn on your imagination; when you think with your heart, not necessarily your head (in a good way).

It’s for those times when spontaneity takes over and when doing something for no reason at all – other than that it appeals to you – is the best reason you can think of for doing it. It’s for those gestures that bring you or someone else joy. It doesn’t require an agenda or a game plan or a whole lot of thinking.

What it does require is the ability to throw all that serious stuff away for just a few minutes and to embrace the chance to act on an impulse. It doesn’t have to be an enormous, grand gesture; in fact, small “just like this” moments mean you can experience more of them – even every single day.

So, from the place that brings us such classics as “Yo! I’m walkin’ here,” “Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” and “What the f**k is wrong with you?” (you’ve gotta love those New Yorkers) comes this other, arguably softer expression. Try it (you’ll probably have to explain it, but the learning curve is small) – it will become a habit before too long (a good one, trust me).

Just like that. Snap.

©2024 Claudia Grossman