SAVOR:
I wonder how many of the “savor” posts will be about food. It’s the first usage that comes to mind when I think about this word.
But, since it’s just us talking here … what I miss “savoring” is books.
I love reading, and I am an avid advocate for reading (especially banned books). I also do #ReadUnited every year through the United Way.
But I haven’t gotten lost in a paper book (vs audio) in years.
You know why? Because it’s easier/more tempting to check the phone for a dopamine hit of a (potential) notification.
I remember reading an article in Harvard Business Review years ago — I think it was around 2009. The author talked about how he broke his brain with social media. “HOW RIDICULOUS” I thought at the time. I did have a cellphone then, but I didn’t have any social media applications on it.
Once you’ve lived with someone with dementia, it’s hard not to worry about how precipitously a human being’s brain can go downhill. I keep thinking of Pat Summitt and her early Alzheimer’s, of the protagonist in “Still Alice” and how she got lost in her own city, how she left an increasingly elaborate set of instructions to herself to try to hang on to a semblance of the life she knew (there was something about her Blackberry in the freezer, but I don’t recall how that fit in). She stopped being able to read, so her family set her up with videos. She stopped being able to follow the videos, so she … just stopped being.
My five minutes are over. Maybe in an upcoming week I’ll be able to report on savoring a good read.
Welcome to this week’s Five Minute Friday. Our instructions, via creator Kate Motaung: “Write for five minutes on the word of the week. This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.” (But I can’t resist spell checking, as you can imagine.)
Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
Very interesting. I’m still “savoring” hard copy books. My hearing loss is partly a processing glitch so audio books are completely out. I need a visual cue to even process an audio file, even song lyrics. Reading on a screen is nothing more than skimming, so unless I’m holding a physical book, I miss so much. But I also find it much harder to immerse myself in a book for long periods of time. My attention span wans unless the writing is exceptional and the story engrossing.
Thanks for your comment! Thanks, too for not minimizing my concern but also being reassuring at the same time. I just really miss that “getting lost in a book” sense.
Paula – I just finished a bunch of great books from Book of the Month club! I’ve never read so consistently since college.
Especially notable + highly recommend:
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Beach Read by Emily Henry
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
Thanks, Emily. I’ve heard great things about the Kristin Hannah book.
I feel all of this… and since I read almost exclusively after I go to bed and before I sleep, the book needs to be especially engaging. Some nights, I nibble on 2-3 sentences. But once in a while, a book keeps me up. I have to put it to bed so I can sleep. 😉
I hear you! That’s the only time I read something that’s either on paper or Kindle. I make it through one or two pages, period. But I guess that’s better than zero.
I don’t get lost in a book very often these days. My issue is feeling guilty which stems from an accusation from a family member. I’m slowly realizing this person didn’t get me nor wanted to. And then, as you mentioned, social media came along. I’ve cut myself from it. It’s not easy as I’m still actively involved in a few groups. Anyway, I’m slowly returning to enjoying books and getting lost in them. But, I still have trouble with the issue of guilt; but, I think I’ll get over it. Thank you for your words especially about social media.
Hi Lee Ann. Thank you for sharing. I’m so sorry about the guilt — that’s a heavy burden to bear, especially when it interferes with something you love. That reminds me of a quick story. In 7th grade, I guess I had my nose in a book at the beginning of pre-algebra and I was slow to get on task with the math. The teacher contacted my parents and said there was an issue with me “reading too much.” What a hilarious thing for a kid to get in trouble for! (Same teacher also accused me of smoking (which I definitely did not do) — my parents still smoked (they eventually quit) so I guess there was still some residue on my clothes. Maybe the problem with that teacher wasn’t me LOL.
Interesting take on “savor”, and I agree. I do think social media is probably changing our brains
It really is. I need to try to track down that Harvard Business Review article, but that could be difficult. There are plenty of similar articles that have been written.
Have to read everyday, although I admit some of that time’s been taken up with the phone. Sad, but true.
I hear you. I often wonder about kids who’ve grown up with phones essentially in their hands.
Ahhh…savouring. Good books. Good food. Beautiful sunsets. (Ditto sunrises.) Savouring suggests to me slowing down. Appreciating. Ironically, during the first lockdown, I actually had time to do it. Then with Zoom and media, ‘life’ caught up once more. Now I’m busier than ever. Savouring has been sacrificed once more…
I like your list, though. It may make me find something gorgeous to savor (and slow down — without a phone).
I savor my reading time. I stay up after my husband goes to bed so I can read read read. Lately I have been reading the books of fellow writers and reviewing them (you saw my posts) but for now I’m reading whatever I want! Reading and writing go together. A novel stimulates my own creativity. Ears are important, yes, but I would rather read than listen. So EYES have it. Beth
Reading and writing most definitely go together!!
I feel the same. I hate that I can’t savor any more!
I empathize with you, Carol!
I have the same problem. I used to read like a maniac but my attention span is shorter and my impatience with plots bigger.
Carol C.