It’s still dark out and the world remains asleep as I write these words, and I’ve just finished my morning meditation.
I sip my coffee and savour the stillness, the quietude, the space of being able to think without distractions of the Internet or others.
Savouring… it’s a magical act.
Many people are alive but don’t touch the miracle of being alive. ~Thich Nhat Hanh
Savouring is usually applied to eating good food: take a single square of dark chocolate and put it in your mouth, but don’t chew and swallow it. Let it sit there, as you savour it, noticing its earthy notes, hints of citrus, and the richness of its texture as it melts in your mouth. You swallow it almost regretfully after letting it linger, fully appreciating the deliciousness of it, giving pause to think about the people who grew the beans, who roasted and ground them and handcrafted them into this square of joy.
But savouring food is just the start: you can savour anything, and you should. It’s wonderful. And it changes everything.
Savoring can teach you to be mindful, to stop procrastinating, to finally exercise, to eat less and more healthfully, to live life in the present, and much more.
Let’s look at how. And, as you read this, I urge you to slow down from your usual busy practice of reading quickly and savour the reading of this article.
The Practice
The savouring of a square of dark chocolate is a great practice you can do once a day. I like to use tea, taught to me by my friend Jesse of Samovar Tea Lounge because it is so light (compared to sweet coffee drinks) that you have to really pay attention to get the most out of it.
When you savour tea, chocolate, or a handful of berries … you slow down. You pay close attention—the closer the attention, the more you’ll get out of the savouring. You don’t rush to the next thing, but stop and give some space to the activity. You aren’t worried about what you have to do later; you are fully enjoying the present.
This is savouring, and it takes practice. You can do it right now, wherever you are: pause and look around you and savour this very moment. Even if it doesn’t seem to be special, because let’s face it, you’ve done what you’re doing a thousand times, savour it. Fully appreciate the gift you’ve been given.
This is a practice you can do several times a day—find a few rituals for savouring, like enjoying your morning tea or coffee (without sugar), taking a bath, reading to your child, or having a tea ritual in the mid-afternoon, or snuggling with a loved one. The more you practice, the better you’ll get.
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