DeborahBurkeHenderson.com

JUNE 2025 – SAVORING

Four years ago in late spring, I had the gift of being with my older sister, Robin, for ten weeks before she journeyed to heaven. It was truly a time of savoring our love for each other in the small moments of each new day we had together. It is a time I cherish.

Do you make time to savor the subtleties of everyday moments?

Right now, savor your breath. Drink in its prana and let that energy nourish every part of your being – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual. Forming the habit of being present will serve as a foundation for everything else. Slow down and savor the moments of wonder that come your way—be those in the natural world or in your relationships and interactions with one another. It is said that “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.” See if, for an hour or a day, you can live fully, taking nothing for granted. This practice promises to expand your awareness.

So often, we overlook the boundless beauty in our everyday experience, but there is a whole universe of things around us to discover. Some of the simplest things may be the most profound, including the breath of life.

Mindful meditation trains us to find stillness and be more aware of the world around and within us. With heightened awareness, the things we may have never noticed now capture our attention and become sources of deeper appreciation. I have certainly found this true in learning to see with “haiku” eyes. Make it your intention to tune in daily and savor the nuances of each experience, fully engaging in your five senses.

When you feel emotional, rushed, or overwhelmed, STOP. Take a breath and observe the moment. Consider if it’s time to pause or proceed. Notice each detail. Let those details pour over you—slowly—like the flow of a gradual waterfall. Open to the experience just as it is, allowing it to be, without judgement.

Pause. Ponder. Praise. The diversity of creation can delight you, inspire you, and refresh your spirit.

My sister taught me several things in those last weeks of living. Most importantly, she taught me that the essence of our being is LOVE. When everything else is peeled away, the core of our being is that of pure love. Surely, that is something to savor.

Blessings to you and yours,

Deborah

    ________________________

“During the day, see whether you can detect the bloom of the present moment,

the ordinary ones, the ‘in-between’ ones, even the hard ones.”

—Jon Kabat-Zinn

My morning mantra:

"I arise this morning with a smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. 

I vow to live fully in each moment and to greet every being I meet with compassion."

        ~ Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist monk, peace activist 

                                                                                    [1926 - 2022]