Lessons for Living
"Savoring the Moment"

Savoring the moment is simple in concept. It means to fully appreciate whatever we're experiencing. In order to savor something, however, we must be aware of it when it's happening. With the hurry of modern life, many enjoyable moments pass us by because we often are distracted from or inattentive to them.

Such moments may be as common and ordinary as the warmth of beach sand under your feet, the first colorful day of autumn, the taste of a favorite dessert, or observing your child's delight with her new puppy.

When happy moments "are" recognized, there are four options for savoring them. You can "bask" in the physical pleasure of the experience - the warm sand. You may "marvel" at the wonder of the beauty before you - the leaves of fall. You could choose to "luxuriate" in something desirable but not necessary - the sweetness of the dessert. Or, you can engage in "thanksgiving" for what you are offered - your child and the puppy.

No matter which option you choose, you can further enhance the happiness of any of occasion by practicing the four savoring techniques of: sharing, memory building, perception sharpening, and absorption.

Sharing is simply calling attention to the experience as it happens and inviting other people to participate in it. A comment on the cuteness of the puppy would do.

You engage in memory building by capturing a mental image of the moment or taking a souvenir, such as a seashell, so that you can later reminisce about what happened.

Sharpen your experience by focusing perception on specifics such as the exact texture of the beach sand or the quirky way the breeze is whirling the colorful leaves across the lawn.

And, let yourself become fully absorbed in the present experience. Don't allow your mind to be distracted by other things such as comparing the current event to how you'd hoped it would be. Just enjoy what is.