Savour /ˈseɪvə/ – To experience and enjoy to the full.

I heard something that stopped me in my tracks today: …The ability to savour has been proven to increase happiness. It got my attention because it brought together a number of seemingly disparate thoughts I’d been pondering.

It reminded me of the books I’ve read lately about the Danish concept of Hygge. Hygge (pronounced Hoo-ga) is a sense of cozy togetherness marked by slow enjoyment of time, food and ambience. The Danes are very proud to let you know they are some of the happiest people on the planet.

It also reminded me of my all time favourite podcast “Out of the Ordinary” in which Christy Purifoy and Lisa-Jo Baker bring out all that is lovely, noteworthy and meaningful from ordinary everyday life. Listening to these women helps remind me to stop and see the wonder in my everyday.

It speaks to the mindfulness movement sweeping our western world in an attempt to combat the decline in mental health we are seeing all around us.

And it came from the book I’m currently reading by Julia Baird called ‘Phosphorescence’ which seeks to find the source of inner light some people have in times of darkness.

There are many expressions of this one thing. It is a cure for a deep hunger we have. And savouring is as good a word for it as any. If nothing else, a new word gives a fresh perspective to an old concept. If we stop, regard, breath in, ponder, rest, or savour something of beauty, we absorb some of the wonder from it. The same clouds radiate glory above me whether I take them in or rush obliviously below. The same food and drink passes through our mouths, yet it can slide through barely noticed, or bring great pleasure if we take the time to be aware of flavour and texture.

There are times for rushing, but there are also times for savouring – and that is the one thing we apparently need to be constantly reminded of. Because for some reason, rushing comes naturally to many of us, and savouring does not. But I am encouraged that savouring is merely a decision, and a practice that can be cultivated, no matter what personality you came out of the womb with.

So, this week I am putting the word Savour on a post-it note prominently on view as a reminder. And if even for a moment, it will remind me to savour the daily coffee, the blue eyes of my child, and the butterfly outside my window. And I know I will be happier for it – because it makes me happy just thinking about it.