"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." — Anne Lamott
I LOVE music.
Music has always been a big portion of my life, even when I was a kid.
Photo evidence below.
As a toddler I had a record player and would make an almost daily event of singing and dancing around the living room.
In elementary school I was heavily influenced by my older sister's musical tastes, sneaking into her room to "borrow" her Bon Jovi tapes so I could listen to them when she wasn't home.
In high school I worked at a record store and at the same time discovered the world of peer-to-peer music sharing software (more on that topic here).
In my 20's I went to A LOT of concerts and kept a website of photos that I took of the bands.
I even had a college radio show (which I still have some recordings of 😱🤓).
So, like I said, I LOVE music.
But, you wouldn't know that based on my current habits.
Like most of you reading this, I'm busy.
And because of this, I've gotten into the (not so great) habit of trying to "maximize" every minute of my day.
I'll listen to music AND workout.
I'll listen to music AND cook dinner.
I'll listen to music AND walk the dog.
I'll listen to music AND clean the apartment.
I cannot think of the last time I ONLY listened to music.
Yet in highschool it was a ritual of mine.
I would get a new CD, put it in my 5 disc changer (yeah, I was fancy), sit on the floor with the liner notes (either reading along with the lyrics or appreciating the artwork) and JUST LISTEN.
And I wouldn't do this for just one song, but the ENTIRE album.
For roughly one hour I would do nothing but savor the experience of listening to music.
And it was glorious.
The memories are so rich, that when I recall on these moments I can also describe exactly where in my room I would sit, how the carpet felt, the objects around me, the smells, everything.
I savored those moments.
And now music has become something that just happens in the background of my life.
With so much on our plates these days, there's a temptation to multitask everything.
And when we aren't multitasking, then of course, we must be achieving something.
➡ We are meditating to improve our anger management.
➡ We are silencing our phones to get more work done.
➡ We are intently watching a webinar to become better at our jobs.
But what happened to doing something, simply for the joy of doing it? Just for the sake of experiencing positive emotions?
What happened to savoring moments?
Yesterday a client and I were discussing self-care and the challenges she faces with taking a full stop to unplug and recharge.
She talked about how much she LOVES coffee. She has a coffee subscription, she grinds the beans herself, she has a fancy preparation method that I can't explain.
Yet, when it comes to actually drinking the coffee...?
She does it:
❌ While working out
❌ While in a meeting
❌ While answering emails
She LOVES coffee...but isn't actually SAVORING the experience of drinking it.
When we contemplate the things that might make us happy, we tend to think of extraordinary and memorable events like going on the trip of a lifetime or winning the lottery.
Yet consistently noticing and savoring small, everyday positive moments can have a significant effect on happiness, resilience, well-being and overall life satisfaction.
The act of savoring is built on a practice of mindfulness, which has been shown through research to enhance the experience of positive emotions.
Savoring is the capacity to notice, appreciate, magnify and prolong the positive experiences in life, via deliberate attention to and awareness of positive emotions.
So, when's the last time you truly savored something?
If you're like me (or my client), it might be longer ago than you'd like to admit.
And if that's the case, Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to start or revisit this practice.
Tomorrow many of us will be giving thanks for our blessings.
We'll be enjoying good food, good drink and (maybe) good company.
SAVOR that moment.
Dining alone? Bring your full attention to your food, engaging all of your senses.
With one other person? Increase your awareness of the sound of their voice and the expressions on their face.
With a group? Bring your attention to the physical sensations you experience when you are surrounded by the people you love.
When we take time to notice and savor pleasant experiences, not only can we recognize positive emotions, but we can also fully appreciate them.
And isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about? Appreciation?
However you are spending the holiday tomorrow, I hope that you are able to notice and appreciate all the good without getting bogged down by the "bad" and in the process that you can savor the sh*t out of some positive emotions. 😉
Happy Thanksgiving!
Speaking of appreciation, I'd like to take a moment to express mine to the 20 awesome people who are signed up for my Healthy Holiday Blueprint program. I am grateful and honored to be spending the holiday season with you.
Missed the early registration deadline? It's still not too late to get in on the action. We officially start on Friday. Shoot me an email if you want to join.
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