Savor the Slow: How Life's Big Moments Illuminate Our Past
Life moves fast, often too fast. But in those big, pivotal moments, something shifts. What if we didn’t wait for life’s milestones to reflect and savor where we’ve been?
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When time slows, memories surface.
We've all been there. Hurtling toward a major event, days blurring into a frenzied montage of to-do lists and anticipation.
For me, it was my wedding. The months leading up to the big day disappeared in a storm of venue prepping, dress fittings, and table settings.
Time felt like a runaway train, and I was just holding on for dear life.
Then, something unexpected happened. In that final week, everything slowed down.
The world snapped into focus.
Familiar streets whispered forgotten stories.
A drive past my old high school suddenly transported me back to late-night diner runs and questionable fashion choices.
It was like my life was playing a highlight reel, not because I was dying but because something big was about to begin.
Why do big moments make us reflect?
This doesn’t just happen with weddings. Life loves a good throwback montage. Right before big transitions like a move, a baby, or a new job, our brains hit rewind. We get nostalgic. We reflect. We start texting people we haven’t spoken to in years. Why?
Maybe it’s our subconscious organizing our memories, neatly filing away the “before” so we can step into the “after.” Or maybe it’s just a reminder that everything we’ve been through has led us to this exact moment.
Whatever the reason, these moments of reflection are worth paying attention to. They give us a chance to check in with ourselves, reconnect with people who matter, and actually enjoy where we are before rushing ahead to what’s next.
5 ways to savor the slow.
So, how do we make space for these moments of reflection without waiting for a life-changing event to force us into it?
Here’s a start:
1. Practice mindfulness.
Even if it’s just for five minutes a day, breathe, look around, and be here now.
2. Journal, but make it fun.
You don’t have to write deep, poetic musings unless that’s your thing. Bullet points, random thoughts, and funny observations all work—whatever helps you process.
3. Go outside.
Nature has a way of putting things into perspective. Also, fresh air is underrated.
4. Do things that make you happy.
Dance in your kitchen. Sing in the car. Eat the good chocolate. Life’s too short to save joy for later.
5. Welcome change instead of fearing it.
Every new beginning comes with a little bit of chaos. Lean in. You’ve got this.
The gift of reflection.
Revisit our values.
When life makes us pause, we get to check in with ourselves.
Are we still on the path we want to be on?
Are we living in a way that feels true to who we are?
Or have we been too busy checking off boxes to even notice?
Reconnect with our people.
A song, a smell, or a random street can suddenly make you think about someone you haven’t seen in years.
Don’t just think about them.
Text them. Call them. Some connections are worth rekindling.
(So long as they didn’t end on bad terms, that is… some things are better left unsaid.)
Learn from our mistakes.
Look, we’ve all made some questionable decisions. From relationships, to haircuts, to leaving that one friend group behind, we’ve all been there.
Reflection helps us learn. What worked? What didn’t? How can we make better choices moving forward?
Actually enjoy the moment we’re in.
When we stop and acknowledge where we’ve been, we appreciate where we are.
Right now, this moment, is something we’ll look back on someday.
Might as well soak it up.
That last week before my wedding was a gift.
It reminded me that life isn’t just about getting to the next thing.
The in-between moments, the quiet pauses, the flashbacks to who you used to be, those are the things that you carry on with you.
So, the next time life feels like it’s moving at warp speed, take a second.
Look around. Savor the slow. You never know what you’ll remember.