What Did Your Lunch Taste Like Yesterday?

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?

The best part of waking up... is Folgers in my cup.

At least one of these jingles is destined to be stuck in your head after reading this (sorry). BUT, what do they all have in common?

If you’ve ever tried to count the licks to the center of a Tootsie Pop, chances are you found yourself paying a little more attention to the flavor along the way.

And when you hear, “the best part of waking up…” can you picture the steamy cup of freshly brewed coffee? Maybe even smell it? If so, you probably lingered just a little longer over your first sip.

The marketing teams behind Tootsie Roll Industries or The J.M. Smucker Company may not have realized it at the time, but in their own way, they were teaching us something about how to live a happier life.

Let me introduce you to the concept of savoring.

According to Dr. Laurie Santos, savoring is

"the simple act of stepping out of your experience to review it and really appreciate it."

In her course, The Science of Well-Being, she continues to explain that we should take time to savor because it is a mood booster! It boosts our mood by:

1. It reduces hedonic adaptation (getting used to things that used to make us happy) or helps us remember the good stuff in life.

2. It prevents mind wandering and keeps us present in the moment. If you're counting how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop, it can be hard to scroll on social media at the same time.

3. It can help us practice gratitude in real time.

So, how do you do it? Well... by simply DOING IT.

It is the conscious act of thinking about why a positive experience is making you happy.

According to a study by OnePoll, 60 percent of people do not believe there are enough hours in the day to get everything done. But what does that really mean?

If you are one of the 6 in 10 people reading this who feel like you don’t have enough time, I have a hunch: you’re not taking the time you already don’t have to savor your experiences throughout the day.

You know how I know?

Because some days, I eat my lunch and only remember that I ate it because there’s an empty container nearby.

So I’ll ask you… what did your lunch taste like yesterday? Do you remember?

Or if lunch isn’t your thing, think about your coffee, breakfast, dinner, evening glass of wine, or a sweet treat. Did you actually taste it? Could you describe it right now?

If the answer is no, I invite you to try savoring tomorrow.

Pick one simple moment and fully experience it. What does your coffee cup feel like in your hand? How does the morning sun, or even the wind, feel on your face? What does your favorite sweater feel like on your skin? What’s the texture of your dog’s fur?

You get it.

Happy savoring!

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Find one thing that brings you joy today.