Savor the Flavor of Your Life

"He who distinguishes the true savor of his food can never be a glutton; he who does not cannot be otherwise." ~ Henry David Thoreau

The word savor means to enjoy an experience, activity, or feeling as much as you can for as long as you can. It also means to enjoy the flavor of something you are eating as much as you can by eating it or drinking it slowly, focusing on the taste.

I'd like you to think for a moment about savoring the flavor of your life. Do you absolutely love it? Do you praise the good things that are happening in your life? Are you able to accept the praise of others about your life? How often are you transformed by the splendor that you see before you, like a freshly fallen snow? Here are some ideas that can enhance your levels of enjoyment.

When we discover something new, something novel, something wonderful, our first thoughts are to share the information with those we love. It's a gifting of our understanding and our discoveries. It's a way to savor the flavor of your life. Here are some things I've shared recently:

- Links to articles that seem appropriate for a particular friend
- A glass of wine with a friend to unwind after a day's work
- Traveling to Toronto
- Signing up for an Enlightenment Class

When your friends share back with you, it's like a wonderful sauce for your appreciation meal.

Sharing the memories of your experiences with another is a way to re-live the events and to deepen the appreciation, adding enrichment to your life. This is why we take photographs when we are on vacation, or at a party, or if we witness a beautiful scene. Remembering all the senses you used when you first experienced the event helps you to savor the flavor in your life. And it's of interest to note that unless you were actually on that vacation, when you see those pictures, you have no memories to indulge in and the pictures can become boring rather quickly.

Patting yourself on the back is another way to savor the flavor. If you're a good writer, admit it. Tell yourself that your skills are top notch. If you're an excellent chef, say so. No sense hiding behind that apron. Candid acknowledgment of your skills is a great way to add savor to the life experiences you are accumulating. It has been said that it isn't the areas in which we lack skill that is frightening; it's acknowledging the ones where we have unfolded the skills that frightens us most. Wouldn't it be an interesting practice to stand in front of a mirror and say "You are excellent at (fill in the blank.)" Be sure to thank yourself for the compliment.

When I attend a live musical performance, I prefer to spend most of the time with my eyes closed and my ears open wide. I focus within at these concerts and when the visual perceptions are shut down, the aural perceptions seem to be enhanced, adding more savor.

Want to enhance the savor of your life? Here are a few suggestions, any one of which will add more enjoyment, more savor, to your life.

1. Find the oldest photographs in your collection. Look at them, remembering all you can about the event. Then, call someone else in the picture and share it with them.

2. Make a list of five things you think are "good" about yourself. Find a way to share these with two other people this week, and find out their five.

3. Soak in a bubble bath with your eyes closed. Feel the heat and smell the bubbles. See if this kind of sensory deprivation helps you savor more fully.

4. One day at work, set aside a full hour to allow no other distractions. Concentrate fully on the task at hand. Did you like it better this way?

I sincerely hope these suggestions enhance the flavor of your life.

"The heart of marriage is memories; and if the two of you happen to have the same ones and can savor your reruns, then your marriage is a gift from the gods." ~ Bill Cosby