My wife is a slow eater. Unlike my hungry boys, who devour their meals like a wolf pack, she enjoys and appreciates every bite, enjoying the process of eating as much as the outcome of being sated. I refer to her as the savorer of our family and it impacts all the things she does.
Delayed gratification may be out of style, but the feeling of working to achieve something is still one of the sweetest rewards.
The idea of process as “a means to an end” misses the point that the process is mostly the part that we’re spending our time on. To miss that means missing most of what we do day to day.
The planting of the seeds, the sowing of the soil, the tending to the crops can have as much (or more) reward that reaping the harvest. Why are we so fast to jump into the eating part?
Work-life balance is tricky and getting trickier. There used to be much clearer lines between the two, do the job, punch the clock and end up at home for the important things. Working for the weekend!
What happens if the weekend doesn’t exist anymore?
Time to practice being a savorer. Find ways to enjoy all the aspects of your days. Find work that is meaningful. Find people to do it with that inspire you. Find ways to spend time doing things you want to do as an integrated part of your week.
Don’t be fooled – if you’re trying to just get up the hill to see the valley beyond, you might be disappointed to find that there’s just another hill. Time enjoy the hike! Be a savorer.