As the midpoint of the season nears, this week’s Motivational post has been chosen to encourage you to savor all that autumn offers.

Putting into practice the skill of savoring, as shared in this post last month, not only elevates our lives in the immediate moment, but also improves —or, should I say, deepens — the quality of life we live moving forward through regular, intentional savoring. Literally, the brain changes when we set our mind to savor that which captures our appreciation, our awe, our enjoyment, our delight, and curiosity.

In fact, there are five specific ways to savor, and when we know each of them, we can bring even more intention and frequent practice of this skill into our daily lives.

To savor involves moments that are sometimes entirely internal, sometimes wholly external, and in other instances, a combination of both. Let’s take a look at each of them: four were outlined in Savoring: The New Model of Positive Experience, by Fred B. Bryant and Joseph Veroff, and a fifth was identified in a 2022 study.

What I’d like to do in this new four-part series, spanning the next twelve months, is share a list of seasonal moments to savor and designate which type of savoring each might involve (sometimes they involve multiple types). By knowing what and how we are savoring, we become more inclined to savor in various ways. And the more ways we savor, the more opportunities we experience moments to savor. So while we may already be quite expert in Marveling, capable of noticing in keen detail all that is outside of us that is either beautiful, unique, or special in its ordinariness, we may be less inclined to trust that Basking is a worthwhile form of savoring, maybe even having been taught to avoid it at all costs. However, what I will encourage you to do is remember to savor those moments as well. Taking the time to Bask in having completed something you sacrificed and invested much in, regardless of the response from the outside world.

Whichever of the five savoring skills you would like to strengthen, just knowing what they are is a reminder that each one, when we engage in it, and do so mindfully, we enrich our life in the present moment and moving forward, and discover all the more moments available for each of us to savor.

Marveling (awe)

1. Seeing leaves fall gently from the trees while walking, or sitting outside, delighting in their sway-filled dance to the ground, table, hat or head below.

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2. Taking walks, drives, runs, or paddles surrounded by Mother Nature to take in her changing leaves and all her glorious gem-tone colors

~these moments of luxuriating will likely absolutely include Thanksgiving, an expression of gratitude for a variety of reasons, many will be unique to each of us – being able to live in proximity to such beauty, to live in a community that protects and cares for such lands, our physical ability to access the trails and destinations, etc.

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3. The local pumpkin patch to delight in all of the uniquely shaped gourds and their abundance!

Luxuriating (pleasure of the senses)

4. Spying bushels of apples begging to be turned into something delicious

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5. Eating a scrumptious bite of an apple cider-flavored bundt cake (recipe shared here)

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6. Making seasonal dishes as sides, main dishes or desserts and delighting in the full, thus satiating flavor

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7. A traditional French autumn recipe, Chocolate Chestnut Spread Cake from A Table in France

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8. A seasonal facial or spa treatment to correct the time spent in the sun during the previous season

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9. Attending the opening of the new season at the symphony, ballet or other performing arts theater

While this also involves Marveling and Thanksgiving, while we take in the music or watch the performance, our senses, delighted in what they are experiencing, are savoring.

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10. The warm, stylish scarves can now be part of the daily sartorial rotation

Whether worn with a wool blazer as the outerwear details, or to prevent frigid winds and weather from giving a chill, now is the time we’ve been waiting for. Reaching for those scarves that have been patiently stored in the closet, waiting to be put to use.

Thanksgiving (gratitude)

11. The ability to see such beauty, to take walks to soak up the sights of Mother Nature, feel the breeze as summer is whisked away and autumn winds tease at colder months to come

~As shared earlier, this would also be an example of Marveling. Letting ourselves be awestruck by the natural beauty that surrounds us.

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12. The harvest – of pears, apples, grapes, squash, root vegetables, the list goes on . . .

Basking (pride)

13. Midterms’ arrival and reflecting on your growth in the subject of the courses you’ve enrolled

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14. Cheering in celebration upon completing successfully a task set with intention

From a DIY project to a financial goal, a career project, or a presentation, anything that previously had not been completed or accomplished, when it is, take the time to revel, to dance, to cheer yourself for staying the course, giving it your best effort, and bringing it to completion.

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15. Exercising the discipline to start a new routine, a new habit with La Rentrée, and continuing to have it as part of your daily modus operandi six months into the season

Whether or not you have shared what you have newly added or changed with anyone, take a moment to decide whether to write it in your journal or say it out loud to acknowledge your sticktoitiveness. Permit yourself to do something to express congratulations for your progress, as you undoubtedly chose this change or new addition to elevate the quality of your life in some way.

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16. Delighting in the success of a loved one – a child, a niece/nephew, friend, partner, even our four-legged companions – when achievement is reached

From the sports, performances or activities children take part in, growth witnessed over time to see a desired outcome, or observing our pups happy and yet attentive so we can ensure they are safe while also enjoying life, whether anyone outside of us and the one we love hears our praise, this is to bask. It is and will forever be appreciated by those we love.

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17. Happy dance for the pumpkins grown in your garden!

My neighbor shared a photo of the bountiful crop of pumpkins her father had grown in his garden, and my mother shared one with me as well, capturing my parents’ front stoop lined with beautiful Cinderella-shaped gourds. There is something within that swells up when our efforts bring forth what we had hoped, and this is good pride, for which we need to allow ourselves to savor. You’ve taken the idea and grown it into fruition! A happy dance is indeed warranted— and even absolutely necessary!

~ Below are pumpkins found around town at various pumpkin patches, and for those people and farmers who grew them, may your happy dances commence! Thank you for sharing your time and efforts with us all.

Knowing (interest, curiosity)

18. Stepping into a bookshop on a blustery day to warm the mind and the body

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19. Watching a seasonal film, new or treasured, to learn, to understand, to see

In this post, I share 16 films perfect for fall viewing.

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20. Planting grasses, perennials, bulbs into the ground before winter’s chill, in preparation for a brilliant new gardening season come Spring.

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21. Witnessing the seasonal changes and learning how to dress the best for them (as well as navigate the roads with ease)

Yesterday morning brought the first icy roads and trails of the season to the surrounding area of Bend. With each passing year, wherever we call home, we experience unique seasonal changes and varying attire and safety needs to ensure both enjoyment and peace of mind. Once we choose to learn what those needs are, the season becomes quite remarkable to savor, a result of our curiosity to learn and then apply that knowledge.

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22. Cozying up at home with a new book just picked up at the library and long anticipated

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The more ways we realize there are to savor, and consciously bring that into our daily life, the more our daily life elevates. And as we look at each season with a perspective of abundance, realizing all that is made available to us to treasure, and also knowing it is evanescent, we live more in the present moment. With this new and strengthened habit, our everydays cannot help but deepen in their quality and fulfillment.

Now, let’s continue savoring this very special season that is Autumn! We still have more than half the season left, and now with even more ways to enjoy it! Look for the Winter’s Offered Savorings post to be shared in January!

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