Savoring the present moment is pondering on impermanence.
The Buddha instructs us to savor life as it is impermanent and suffering is inevitable. Siddhartha Gautama gave up asceticism — trying not to enjoy food or sleep — after he achieved enlightenment. Savoring is the ability to prolong and stretch enjoyment or positive emotional experiences. It is about slowing down. Studies show that when you slow down, you are more likely to stop and help someone in need. And savoring has been directly tied to happiness. Being happy in the present moment is not only okay, but also a good thing. There is no need to end a blissful moment because it will end naturally. Is it fair to savor a perfect moment, while others suffer? Savoring is ok, but fairness remains ambiguous. There's plenty we can savor, big and small - from taking a trip to free savorings such as smelling the jasmine flowers in the neighbor's yard.
‘Many people are alive but don’t touch the miracle of being alive.’ ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Savoring is usually applied to eating. If I pause for each bite and not reach for the next one immediately - I savor it. Notice the taste, the texture , and think about where it came from, who made it, what went into it and what it will do for my body. It’s hard to overeat when I savor and slow down. The closer you attend, the more you’ll get out of savoring. You are not worried about what you have to do, you are fully enjoying the present. This is savoring but it takes practice. Food is just the start. You can savor anything. Even if it doesn’t seem to be special. Savoring can teach you to be mindful, to stop procrastinating and exercise, to eat less and more healthfully, to live in the present. This is a practice you can do several times a day — find a few rituals for savoring, drinking your morning tea, taking a bath, reading to your child, or snuggling with a loved one. The more you practice, the better you’ll get.
Pondering on impermanence helps me savor the present moment.
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