Savor the Moment…
“The way to develop the habit of savoring is to pause when something is beautiful and good and catches our attention – the sound of rain, the look of the night sky – the glow in a child’s eyes, or when we witness some kindness. Pause… then totally immerse in the experience of savoring it.” —Tara Brach
In her Meditation & Joy Series, Alice Lottes offers practices to help us open to more joy. One of them she shared was to savor the moments that bring us joy, love, freedom, wellbeing, and the blessings we desire.
Alice also reminded us that this practice of savoring is so hard for many of us focused on finishing the to-do list, achieving success, or serving others.
Taking time to pause, savor, celebrate, and reflect on these beautiful joyful moments in our day can seem like a waste of time. Yet savoring, speaking about, or reflecting on these moments actually opens us up to receiving more joyful experiences.
In this time of deep sorrow, anger, and fear about the state of our world, I found E. B. White’s wisdom on savoring to be a reminder that joy matters even in these troubling times.
What recent experiences are worth pausing for to savor now? What simple pleasures (like that first cup of coffee or tea) can you take an extra minute each day to honor?May you find many moments to savor throughout your day. And may you look back with joy on just how much there is to savor in your life.
Savor Life
“I savor life. When you have anything that threatens life… it prods you into stepping back and really appreciating the value of life and taking from it what you can.”
―Sonia Sotomayor
Be Present
“If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present…Gratefully.”
―Maya Angelou
The Only Things
“I’ve always believed in savoring the moments. In the end, they are the only things we’ll have.” ― Anna Godbersen
My Inner Voice Speaks to Me in Mid-October
“Listen, dear one,”
it explains.
“You only think you have forgotten
the impossible.
Go now, to that marsh
beyond Fresh Pond
and consider how the red
burgeons
into crimson;
go see how it’s been preparing
forever
for today.
Notice the stirring, silent
beauty of bog;
watch how summer lingers at the door.
Get there as the egret
makes its lacy landing
and consider, then, the possibility
that for ten thousand years,
that sleek, white whisper of bird
has been waiting for you to arrive,
so it could land
just like that,
just then.”
—Lisa J. Starr, Mad with Yellow (link takes you to GoodReads review)
