Next great recipe or meal you create, next beautiful food picture you take, next great meal moment or memory, take the time to really savor it. It just might improve your life.
By K.M. Robbins
In December 2010, Psychology Today posted “Top 10 Psychology Studies of 2010” written by Dr. Heidi Grant Halvorson. The article describes the findings of studies that can help you find ways of improving your life: i.e. breaking bad habits, making things seem easier, time management, gaining willpower, etc. One of the tips, “how to be happier,” validated something I’ve always known. That being a foodie improves my life.
Beyond the usual reasons of eating better or being more mindful of the food I eat, the study, entitled “Money Giveth, Money Taketh Away,” said that the secret to being happier is learning to savor life. Halvorson phrases it that “Savoring is a way of increasing and prolonging our positive experiences.” When you eat a great meal, enjoy it. If you see a beautiful sunset, take a picture. Instead of waiting for great things to happen, you rejoice in what you have.
Savoring life is why being a foodie enriches my life. Even the word “savor” rings so strongly with rhetoric of the foodie world. Being a foodie means rejoicing in a unique beer from a microbrewery, a new twist on a classic dish, and vivid plate with texture and depth.
In this line of thought, even being a food blogger enhances and enlivens the every day. Having a food blog encourages me to take the time to write about the meals I’ve eaten, the dishes I’ve made, and relive those meal, turning each bite into each word and savoring the experience. To make my write-ups accurate, I have to eat slowly, thoughtfully, so I can take notes about what I taste, smell, experience. Plus, the blog creates an archive of meals to relive through the act of being read and re-read.
Next great recipe or meal you create, next beautiful food picture you take, next great meal moment or memory, take the time to really savor it. It just might improve your life.
The best conversations I have had were when there were still dirty dishes on the table after a good meal. If you take the time to savor the moment, there is no telling what will happen next. It is amazing. Love this post, great concepts to to live by!
I agree. When my immediate family gets together, we have to fuss at my mom to let the dishes wait so that we can enjoy the food and the moment.
Thanks for enjoying my post.
My goodness, you brought tears to my eyes reading this article, I so agree with you about eating intelligently and thoughtfully. This contributes to enhance appreciation for the simply things in life.
Thank you for this wonderful recommendation. Our culture is moving towards being more thoughtful about what we put in our bodies and where it comes from. Paying attention to the food as we eat it is equally important. And I agree, this practice will certainly improve one’s life!