Al Kyte's Life Take-Aways

For many years I associated the word savoring with foods I particularly enjoyed tasting. Yet savoring can be about delighting in other things as well, so a few years back I started thinking about savoring time. I had just realized that most of my fishing days were behind me. “That’s not good,” I said to myself. “I guess I’ll just have to have as many good fishing days as possible.” The best fishing days had mostly been those of catching big fish, many fish, or fish that were selective enough to test my skill. Yet as I’ve gotten older, those days don’t happen as often. It occurred to me that having more good fishing days might require opening up my perspective of what makes a good fishing day. There are many fishing days when I have delighted in something I haven’t seen before, such as a different butterfly, bird, wildflower, animal track or something like that goshawk chasing a kingfisher overhead. In fact, any day I have the opportunity to go fishing or even be out in nature, particularly with someone I care about, is a good day. So I began to savor all such days rather than just those in which the fishing was noteworthy.

Taking groups of anglers fishing to other places, such as Alaska, the Caribbean, and Christmas Island gave me an additional slant on savoring time.  When fishing from a small, salt water boat, I typically alternated with another person while the guide poled us along through shallow water spotting fish.  When it was the other angler’s turn to fish, I had to put down my fly rod, but welcomed that opportunity to pick up my camera and binoculars to better scan the surroundings.  My preparation always included studying the plants, birds and animals I might see in that part of the world.  I realized I might have only one fleeting moment to glimpse and recognize something rare that I would probably never see again.  I needed to keep my senses on high alert.  It was like intently watching a “who done it” mystery where certain events provide important clues I don’t want to miss.   So savoring sometimes feels like I am living each second of time to its fullest.

But why limit my savoring to those special occasions when I’m enjoying favorite activities?  Why not start savoring moments of a more routine day?  This does happen mostly when I am able to turn from the tasks I am doing to look instead at people and what is going on around me.  When I can do this, I am more likely to catch those small occurrences that might make any moment special.  

The most challenging days to savor are those distressing ones that turn people’s outlook negative.  The closest I have come to savoring such days is to try to welcome the opportunity they offer to test and strengthen my character—just as the Bible teaches.  Jesus taught that in this world I should expect tribulation but that in Him I can have peace because He has overcome the world.  And praying over what is negative is far better than becoming negative.                                                          

So I try to open up additional times to savor, heighten my awareness to see the rare and beautiful as well as focus on what I am currently savoring, look for the positive in troubling times, and even reflect back on special savored moments of the past.  These approaches to savoring help me to get more out of life—in a variety of circumstances.  Time is precious and savoring it is a good thing.