Taking a moment with just myself and my surroundings when I wake up before I check my phone and start my day. Also bus/train rides with music only, and just daydreaming. Less time on desktops and with media in the background, if possible, and just actively live in the moment.
I have a love of celtic music, this month we found a new group locally and bought tickets. I will savor it for sure. It is also my son’s 32nd birthday today and he will choose a restaurant to have dinner on Sunday. I look forward to dinning out also and celebrating his birthday.
I find this time of year that I tend to jump on the “gotta have it” bandwagon just because of the Holiday shopping frenzy. But what I have found lately is that once I get the “thing” I really don’t get the enjoyment out of it that I thought I would. I came from a large family (11 children) and when we got a gift, it was always something to savor because it wasn’t very frequently. One of my goals this year is to focus on what I do have and to learn to savor those things. I want less now, not more.
By returning from the head with its caffeinated thoughts to the senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, sound. Then, thinking about how much thought and effort went into the thing I focus my senses on.
For example, the surface of my laptop is silky smooth. Someone thought of just this color, this material. Somewhere, raw elements went into the manufacture of this material. People put together the circuit board; someone tested it, someone wrapped and shipped it. Someone flew the plane on which it traveled. There’s so much around me, so much dedication and effort and thought. I go from caffeinated distraction to (admittedly also caffeinated) savoring and astonishment.
I could incorporate more moments of savoring into my daily life by just being present and curious, be aware, and be open; continue to learn to incorporate all my senses.
I can savour by stopping and enjoying the moments – with my children, with my husband, with nature – any time I feel a connection, I can slow down and enjoy.
“For This, I Walk Outside”
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
Not to escape the world,
but to be more wholly in it.
Sharp cold stings my cheeks—
not like a slap, but like the thrilling burn
of whiskey as it blazes down the throat—
the kind of wild aliveness
that brooks no choice
but to wake up to life,
to champion it, to know life
as the most wondrous thing
even as I steep in the ugliness
we humans commit.
This is what life asks of us.
I walk outside to be more wholly here,
here the way the Stellar’s jay is here.
Even on the coldest day,
its every fluffing, every peck, every head bob,
every flight is in service to life.
It’s never confused about its purpose.
I want to be in service.
Outside, everything is teacher:
the cold, the snow, the bird, the day,
this fallible, fabulous human race,
this improbable, beautiful planet in space.
To serve life, I must inhabit it wholly
and be inhabited by it, too.
As if it all could end tonight.
As if it goes on forever.
How could I incorporate more moment of savoring into my daily life? By savoring the present moment which truly is a gift. Makes me think of St. John’s gospel which is known as a higher Christology than the other three gospels because it was written from the premise/perspective of Christ Consciousness. In it, the man called Christ Jesus (the anointed one) is often quoted as saying “Come and See.” He is not saying seek or search.
Joe Primo’s quote: “The contentment found in gratefulness is not about “standing still” but showing up to your life and being present, always aware of the invitations before you; a receiving rather than a seeking.”
For me that says, “Be present so you can see and receive the gift of this moment”. There is a quote that is often credited to Eleanor Roosevelt: “The past is history. The future is mystery, Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.” May we all receive and savor the precious gift of NOW.
I sometimes pause while I’m eating or drinking something to pay attention and savor the flavors as well as the effort it took to bring that food or beverage to me. I do something similar when I’m on a walk, tuning in deliberately to something around me whether it’s the tall pines against the sky, the calls of birds and seeing them winging overhead, or something about a neighbor’s yard.
I don’t do any of these things consistently. I’m now thinking about cultivating the habit of a pause as I sit down to eat or to go out the door on a walk, specifically to remind myself to savor, to pay attention and appreciate. It feels relatively easy to savor these kinds of moments. More challenging would be to pause in the middle of my work, or before starting some new meeting or project, in a similar way to savor the opportunities I have to apply knowledge and to learn, to make a difference and to work with others.
Tonight my husband and I will go out for our “date-a-versary”: It’s the anniversary of our first date in 2006, which also happened to be my parents’ wedding anniversary. We’re going for Indian food, which is very savoring-worthy–one of my favorite cuisines. I’ll pause to savor the time with my sweetheart and again to savor the hot chai, the spices and vegetables.
I have a more mundane hope – but I want to incorporate more moments of savoring completion of an act. I want to feel satisfaction at accomplishing the smallest of tasks throughout the days. For instance, if I finish this cup of tea, then I want to enjoy taking the mug to the sink, washing it, and putting it back on the shelf, rather than leaving it on the table and mindlessly walking away from it. I hope that by enjoying the follow-through, I will be forming a reward for focusing my attention on the acts I am choosing, and I will be training my thoughts back in to the present, versus the distracted thinking, or as Howie just referenced, “those imaginary conversations” in my head. Choosing very small tasks or desired little projects, and then really enjoying completing them – hoping that the small components add up to greater progress, and more savoring of daily life. I can try for awhile and see what we get! I’ll wash this mug soon …. but first I want to refill it! ….and savor my tea and this conversation. thank you, all. Good day to the Community. Good luck to us.
Carol Ann, what I love about your process is the simplicity of it, so available to all of us, when, as Mary notes, we remember to do it. Your writing is encouragement!❤️
Thanks Carol Ann for writing about this.
I wrote about savoring life by staying in the present moment,
but the hard part for me is just remembering to do this.
Breaking it down as you have makes it feel more do-able.
So thank you again. ☕️💕
I like this a lot, Carol Ann. I’m more a starter than a finisher, broadly speaking–I enjoy beginning new things. I do feel satisfaction when I finish something and those are moments I could savor more often if I worked on follow-through on a few pesky things that have been hanging out a while. Your comments remind me how good it will feel to check those off.
I can incorporate more moments of savoring into my daily life
by slowing down and staying in the present moment.
Staying in the moment requires first remembering to stay in the moment
and then focusing on the moment.
Then experiencing life through my senses.
This takes me out of my head and into my heart.
Coming from my heart and taking life in through my senses
will allow me, even for short periods of time, the space to savor my life.
Peace to all.
Thank you All so much for your sharing here this morning. I am in full retreat, quiet mode this morning as our last company left this morning after a week of guests. I see my whole day as savoring quiet. And savoring your words. Regarding savoring daily life, I will give it thought today. May blessings abound.
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Taking a moment with just myself and my surroundings when I wake up before I check my phone and start my day. Also bus/train rides with music only, and just daydreaming. Less time on desktops and with media in the background, if possible, and just actively live in the moment.
I have a love of celtic music, this month we found a new group locally and bought tickets. I will savor it for sure. It is also my son’s 32nd birthday today and he will choose a restaurant to have dinner on Sunday. I look forward to dinning out also and celebrating his birthday.
I find this time of year that I tend to jump on the “gotta have it” bandwagon just because of the Holiday shopping frenzy. But what I have found lately is that once I get the “thing” I really don’t get the enjoyment out of it that I thought I would. I came from a large family (11 children) and when we got a gift, it was always something to savor because it wasn’t very frequently. One of my goals this year is to focus on what I do have and to learn to savor those things. I want less now, not more.
I will ride that train with you, Paula. ❤️
By letting go of wanting and accept whatever is happening in the present moment . Letting go seems to help me become grateful and at ease.
I could stop worrying so darned much!
By returning from the head with its caffeinated thoughts to the senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, sound. Then, thinking about how much thought and effort went into the thing I focus my senses on.
For example, the surface of my laptop is silky smooth. Someone thought of just this color, this material. Somewhere, raw elements went into the manufacture of this material. People put together the circuit board; someone tested it, someone wrapped and shipped it. Someone flew the plane on which it traveled. There’s so much around me, so much dedication and effort and thought. I go from caffeinated distraction to (admittedly also caffeinated) savoring and astonishment.
I could incorporate more moments of savoring into my daily life by just being present and curious, be aware, and be open; continue to learn to incorporate all my senses.
I can savour by stopping and enjoying the moments – with my children, with my husband, with nature – any time I feel a connection, I can slow down and enjoy.
A poem that fits today’s question.
“For This, I Walk Outside”
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
Not to escape the world,
but to be more wholly in it.
Sharp cold stings my cheeks—
not like a slap, but like the thrilling burn
of whiskey as it blazes down the throat—
the kind of wild aliveness
that brooks no choice
but to wake up to life,
to champion it, to know life
as the most wondrous thing
even as I steep in the ugliness
we humans commit.
This is what life asks of us.
I walk outside to be more wholly here,
here the way the Stellar’s jay is here.
Even on the coldest day,
its every fluffing, every peck, every head bob,
every flight is in service to life.
It’s never confused about its purpose.
I want to be in service.
Outside, everything is teacher:
the cold, the snow, the bird, the day,
this fallible, fabulous human race,
this improbable, beautiful planet in space.
To serve life, I must inhabit it wholly
and be inhabited by it, too.
As if it all could end tonight.
As if it goes on forever.
https://oneartpoetry.com/2024/12/31/for-this-i-walk-outside-by-rosemerry-wahtola-trommer/
Beautiful poem, thank you Barb.
Love this!
How could I incorporate more moment of savoring into my daily life? By savoring the present moment which truly is a gift. Makes me think of St. John’s gospel which is known as a higher Christology than the other three gospels because it was written from the premise/perspective of Christ Consciousness. In it, the man called Christ Jesus (the anointed one) is often quoted as saying “Come and See.” He is not saying seek or search.
Joe Primo’s quote: “The contentment found in gratefulness is not about “standing still” but showing up to your life and being present, always aware of the invitations before you; a receiving rather than a seeking.”
For me that says, “Be present so you can see and receive the gift of this moment”. There is a quote that is often credited to Eleanor Roosevelt: “The past is history. The future is mystery, Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.” May we all receive and savor the precious gift of NOW.
I sometimes pause while I’m eating or drinking something to pay attention and savor the flavors as well as the effort it took to bring that food or beverage to me. I do something similar when I’m on a walk, tuning in deliberately to something around me whether it’s the tall pines against the sky, the calls of birds and seeing them winging overhead, or something about a neighbor’s yard.
I don’t do any of these things consistently. I’m now thinking about cultivating the habit of a pause as I sit down to eat or to go out the door on a walk, specifically to remind myself to savor, to pay attention and appreciate. It feels relatively easy to savor these kinds of moments. More challenging would be to pause in the middle of my work, or before starting some new meeting or project, in a similar way to savor the opportunities I have to apply knowledge and to learn, to make a difference and to work with others.
Tonight my husband and I will go out for our “date-a-versary”: It’s the anniversary of our first date in 2006, which also happened to be my parents’ wedding anniversary. We’re going for Indian food, which is very savoring-worthy–one of my favorite cuisines. I’ll pause to savor the time with my sweetheart and again to savor the hot chai, the spices and vegetables.
I have a more mundane hope – but I want to incorporate more moments of savoring completion of an act. I want to feel satisfaction at accomplishing the smallest of tasks throughout the days. For instance, if I finish this cup of tea, then I want to enjoy taking the mug to the sink, washing it, and putting it back on the shelf, rather than leaving it on the table and mindlessly walking away from it. I hope that by enjoying the follow-through, I will be forming a reward for focusing my attention on the acts I am choosing, and I will be training my thoughts back in to the present, versus the distracted thinking, or as Howie just referenced, “those imaginary conversations” in my head. Choosing very small tasks or desired little projects, and then really enjoying completing them – hoping that the small components add up to greater progress, and more savoring of daily life. I can try for awhile and see what we get! I’ll wash this mug soon …. but first I want to refill it! ….and savor my tea and this conversation. thank you, all. Good day to the Community. Good luck to us.
Carol Ann, what I love about your process is the simplicity of it, so available to all of us, when, as Mary notes, we remember to do it. Your writing is encouragement!❤️
Thanks Carol Ann for writing about this.
I wrote about savoring life by staying in the present moment,
but the hard part for me is just remembering to do this.
Breaking it down as you have makes it feel more do-able.
So thank you again. ☕️💕
A good evening to you Carol Ann.
I like this a lot, Carol Ann. I’m more a starter than a finisher, broadly speaking–I enjoy beginning new things. I do feel satisfaction when I finish something and those are moments I could savor more often if I worked on follow-through on a few pesky things that have been hanging out a while. Your comments remind me how good it will feel to check those off.
I can incorporate more moments of savoring into my daily life
by slowing down and staying in the present moment.
Staying in the moment requires first remembering to stay in the moment
and then focusing on the moment.
Then experiencing life through my senses.
This takes me out of my head and into my heart.
Coming from my heart and taking life in through my senses
will allow me, even for short periods of time, the space to savor my life.
Peace to all.
Thank you All so much for your sharing here this morning. I am in full retreat, quiet mode this morning as our last company left this morning after a week of guests. I see my whole day as savoring quiet. And savoring your words. Regarding savoring daily life, I will give it thought today. May blessings abound.
Good (quiet) morning to you, Mary.
Each moment is precious and is to be held gently. I think if I remember that, I will have savored that moment. Having the intention makes it so.