I must admit, there are times when I use this blog as a confessional.  (Ok, now I’m confessing to confessing).  I write about something on my mind that I’m working through or noticing about myself.  It gives me a chance to think about it, do a little research, and decide if I’m uniquely crazy or if others are going through something similar.  Lately, I’ve been noticing the joy I feel in having a package arrive at my doorstep.  I’ve always known myself to enjoy shopping, especially shoes, purses and jewelry, but what I’m noticing is a bit different.  It’s the pleasure in anticipating something coming and then receiving it.  It can be shampoo or even a toy for my pets.  Something about getting something delivered floats my boat!

Am I crazy?  Materially oriented?  Selfish?  Probably all of these, to some extent.  But I’m relieved to report I’m not alone.  According to a survey of over 1,000 people published in October of 2025, 79% of people say they get packages daily, 64% are men! And 55% of people report feeling happy and 51% of people report feeling excited when the delivery arrives.  Less than 10% of people report feeling regret or remorse.  Although the most common motivations for ordering online include “convenience”, “stress”, and “habit”, I’m a little skeptical these descriptions paint the entire picture of the experience.  These motivations seem so ordinary, not the kind of behavior that leads to an experience of happiness or excitement, for heaven’s sake!  

For sure it’s much easier to tap a few computer keys to get my shampoo that I can’t just get at a grocery store.  It saves me the hassle and gas of driving to a salon.  And yes, the selection is much better online.  I can get the Athleta shirt I love to hike in, even when there is no Athleta in any nearby town.  But these conveniences are experiences that bring me satisfaction.  Where does the tingly sense of happiness or excitement come in when it arrives?

It turns out, it’s the dopamine.  According to several scientific sources, the joy in receiving something delivered is a psychological phenomenon. The experience of anticipation drives the brain’s reward system combined with the tactile experience and sense of connection you experience when you open it.  Even if you know what the package is, the timing of the delivery and the act of opening the package provides an unexpected burst of novelty and surprise.  Unexpected positive events trigger strong emotional responses in our brain pleasure centers through the release of dopamine. And when the item arrives, a small boost in our reward center is initiated based on a sense of pride in accomplishing a goal.

Now that makes sense to me.  I do feel a bit of a rush when I open the door to find a box sitting waiting for me  on my porch.  But I would add one more element to this overall picture based on my own internal reflection and I don’t think I’m alone in this.  I feel taken care of.  My days are hectic, my to do lists are long, and my time is limited. I’m often busy being responsible for people and pets, and, as an adult, I must take care of myself.  There is a little part of me that feels nurtured when something I need or want arrives at my door. Perhaps a little girl part of me feels like I’ve been given a present, or at least a little gift of a helping hand.  It might explain my desire to furiously thank every delivery person who makes it up our hill and to the top of our steps!!  I feel gratitude that something I want or need has just been brought right to me without my having to go out and get it.  (“For me?  Why thank you!  Just what I wanted”).  And as I suspected, gratitude not only releases dopamine in the reward centers of the brain, it also stimulates the release of serotonin, our feel good brain chemical.  

So, the next time I feel giddy seeing the Fed Ex truck roll up the driveway, I can embrace the feeling.  It’s a natural high!  As long as I’m not going overboard with my shopping, I can let myself feel the pleasure of getting given something I ordered.  Because I always have to remember, these are earned items.  They may feel like gifts, but they are far from free!