All that Glitters

By Emily King

I recently read a quote by Anna Quindlen: "Life is made up of moments, small pieces of glittering mica in a long stretch of gray cement." Okay, the gray cement part is kind of bleak, but I do like thinking of small pleasures as “glittering mica”. 

This is the time of the year where we feel summer winding down. The cicadas become a steady soundtrack, the Monarch butterflies stop by on their migration path, the light becomes softer in the evening as the sun sets a little earlier. It’s time to savor the small glittering mica of summer. 

I recently bought a cheap hammock on Amazon and it was the best decision. I love laying suspended in the air, gently rocking, trying not to look at my phone for ten minutes. We spend a lot of time looking forward to life’s headline moments, like weddings, babies, and once-in-a-lifetime vacations. But most of our lives are made up of small, simpler pleasures. The trick is just to notice them. 

Professor emeritus of psychology at Loyola University of Chicago, Fred Bryant, pioneered the field of savoring research. He has spent decades researching and studying how humans can get the most pleasure out of positive experiences. Because of evolution, we are hardwired for negativity. That’s because we always had to be on the lookout for predators and other dangers. It takes practice to notice the good things. But the research says that the practice of savoring the pleasurable moments in life leads to greater wellbeing and better moods. 

If you’re anything like me, in a particularly busy phase of life with kids and activities, slowing down long enough to savor a cup of coffee can feel like a waste of precious time. But it’s not, it can actually make you a happier person. So as summer comes to an end, make sure you take the time to savor all of those moments that you wait the rest of the year for: ripe juicy peaches, running through the sprinkler with your kids, and even the smell of freshly sharpened pencils as you shop for school supplies.