In the bustling pace of modern life, we often find ourselves caught in a relentless cycle of consumption. We consume food, products, media, experiences, and even relationships at an unprecedented rate, all in the pursuit of fulfilment and happiness. However, amidst this frenzy, we often overlook the profound difference between consuming life and savouring it. The energy of enjoyment lies not in the mere act of consumption, but in the art of savouring each moment, finding joy in simplicity, and embracing the richness of life's experiences.

What do you mindlessly consume rather than truly enjoy?

Maria Nemeth (Psychologist) shares her experience eating a desert with a friend in this snippet of her article on Medium.com.

We sit down, side by side, and each of us orders a hot fudge sundae with nuts and whipped cream. I guzzle down that sundae. I don’t know if it’s because I’m thinking someone is going to take it away from me; all I know is that at the end of ten minutes my sundae is gone. I push the empty dish away. Ice cream puddles on the table, chocolate fudge smears in the corners of my mouth, and I hear this little voice inside saying, “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing!”

Meanwhile, my friend is taking these little nummy bites. She’s enjoying every morsel. She says, “ Do you notice how the dark chocolate mixes with the vanilla bean of this ice cream? And I do think those are freshly roasted almonds. And the whipped cream is real because I can taste the butterfat on the roof of my mouth.”

At the end of ten minutes, my friend pushes a half-eaten sundae away. I hear her muttering three words, which I’ve yet to comprehend when it comes to ice cream: “I’ve had enough.”

That’s good for me, you understand because I get to eat what’s left of her ice cream, too!

As I’m waddling out of this restaurant I have an epiphany. I notice that I’ve eaten three times as much as my friend, and I hardly have a memory of the event because I went through it so quickly. I consumed the dessert. She, by contrast, has eaten less but enjoyed it more. She’s satisfied and so is less likely to want something sweet again soon. Me? What hot fudge sundae? It was all a blur.

I invite you to join me on your own personal quest this year to slow the consumption blur and bring back the energy of enjoyment, transcending the realm of materialism and instant gratification, cultivating a deep appreciation for the present moment, to find beauty in the ordinary, and to savour the richness of life's experiences, both big and small.

Here’s to truly enjoying 2024!

Joel Tyack