Savoring life

Oprah recently shared several fascinating articles on her website, featuring the Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh (click here to see article).  One article was an interview about his new book, "Savor: Mindful Eating", in which he focuses on savoring food instead of simply eating our food mindlessly.  I love this concept and in fact, have taught this way of savoring with each of our senses in past workshops.  Using a chocolate kiss, I taught participants to savor the bit of chocolate goodness with all of their senses, being in the moment with the experience.  I use the same type of concept with clients, encouraging them to "be in the moment" with a cup of coffee or tea.  

How can you be in the moment?  Try sitting with your coffee or tea, or a piece of chocolate.  Savor the smell, notice the way it looks,  feel the warmth of the cup or the smoothness of the chocolate, taste it with relish.  As you sit with this experience, try to simply notice any intrusive thoughts, without judgement, then let the thought go.  Enjoy that particular moment, not worrying about what the day will bring or the dishes you should be doing.  

What if you could practice this way of being mindful in other ways? You could go for a walk, noticing the breeze on your face, actually smelling the roses, paying attention to the way your body moves.  How wonderful it would be to take a "mindful" walk, instead of letting worries rent space in our brains for free!  Even doing chores would take on a different "feel"-- the silkiness of soap suds, the squishiness of a sponge--see where I'm going with this idea?

This brings me to sex.  What if you could "savor" your lover's body?  Feel the way the hip curves or the turn of the jaw, the way your partner's skin tastes, or the smell of freshly washed hair.  Sex can be such a sensual moment, if we abandon thoughts like--"does my bottom look big in this position," "I should be cleaning the house right now," or "is my erection firm enough."  Try savoring your partner like you might savor a glass of good wine, noticing every part of the body with your senses, taking it in with relish.  Similarly, notice the yummy sensations of your own body--without judgement.  Savoring...

Comments

[Angela]

I love this! Thanks for the reminder to be more aware!