11/01/2026
November has a way of reminding us that the year is beginning to wind down. The holidays are approaching, calendars start filling, and before we know it, we’re making plans, preparing gatherings, and thinking about everything still left to do.
But what if this season, instead of rushing through it all, we made a little more room to savor?!
Last month, I reflected on a milestone years in the making: completing my Doctor of Medical Science journey. After balancing clinical practice, education, leadership, volunteering and advocacy, I finally reached a finish line I had worked so hard toward!
Yet, one of the greatest gifts wasn’t simply earning another degree. It was having the opportunity to pause, look back, and appreciate the people, sacrifices, experiences, and little moments that helped me get there.
And perhaps that’s what savoring is really about. Recognizing that life’s most meaningful moments aren’t always found at the finish line. Sometimes, they’re happening right beside us while we’re busy looking ahead.
The moments we wish we could slow down
One of the greatest reminders of this lately has been my family, especially having the joy of being close by my baby nephew, Noah.
I still can’t believe he’s already ONE!
Watching him grow, discover the world around him, and reach all those little milestones has been such a special experience. From his curious expressions to the excitement of exploring everything within reach, there’s something incredibly humbling about witnessing the world through the eyes of a little one.
“How did time go by so quickly?”
It’s a question I find myself asking more often than I’d like.
His first birthday has reminded me just how fleeting these seasons of life can be. We celebrate the milestones, take the pictures, and look forward to what comes next. But somewhere in between, the little moments become memories before we even realize it.
I wish we could bottle up certain moments and revisit them whenever we wanted. But time doesn’t work that way. We don’t get yesterday back, and we can’t recreate the exact feeling of a moment we’ve already lived.
What we can do is be more intentional about experiencing the moments we have today.
Whether it’s spending time with family, sharing a meal, watching a little one grow, or simply enjoying an ordinary weekend together, these are the experiences that quietly become some of life’s greatest treasures.
A conversation about savoring
Recently, I had the opportunity to explore this theme during my radio conversation on Let’s Chat America.
If you’d like to listen, I’ve linked the recording below. Fast-forward to approximately the 20-minute mark to hear the conversation centered on savoring on Let’s Chat America YouTube Channel.
Savoring the Moment: Learning the Backstory
Savoring invites us to slow down and become more aware of the positive experiences already woven into our everyday lives. It’s more than simply enjoying something in the moment. It’s allowing ourselves to notice it, appreciate it, and carry its meaning with us.
Sometimes, we become so focused on what’s next that we forget to acknowledge what’s already here.
And that brings me to gratitude.
Gratitude is best experienced, not just expressed
As we enter a season often centered around gratitude and togetherness, I find myself thinking about how easily we can get caught up in the preparations rather than the experiences themselves.
We can spend so much time organizing the perfect gathering, finding the perfect gifts, or making sure everyone has what they need that we forget to enjoy the people right in front of us.
Perhaps gratitude is less about having everything in place and more about recognizing what is already here.
The people who show up for us. The relationships that continue to grow. The lessons that came from difficult seasons. The ordinary days that, looking back, become some of our most meaningful memories.
And sometimes, gratitude is simply having the opportunity to be present for another birthday, another family gathering, another conversation, or another chapter in someone’s life.
These connections matter more than we sometimes give them credit for.
From a whole-person health perspective, our well-being is shaped by more than the habits we practice individually. Meaningful relationships, social connection, belonging, and shared experiences are important parts of living well, too.
An invitation for this season
As the holidays approach, here’s a gentle reminder I’d like to carry with me—and perhaps share with you:
- Slow down. We don’t have to fill every moment or make every gathering perfect.
- Look closer. Notice the little things and the people who make ordinary moments special.
- Express appreciation. Don’t wait for a holiday or special occasion to tell someone what they mean to us.
- Be present. Put down the distractions, listen a little longer, and give the people around us our attention.
- Savor the season. Allow ourselves to enjoy where we are instead of constantly thinking about what’s next.
We often talk about living longer and healthier lives, but perhaps we should also consider how fully we experience those years.
I think back to my graduation, Noah’s first birthday, and the many moments in between. Different milestones, different seasons of life, yet each reminds me of something similar: life is happening right now.
We don’t get these exact moments back. We don’t get to rewind time and experience someone’s first birthday, a family gathering, or a milestone celebration all over again.
But we do get to choose how present we are while we’re living them.
This November, may we make room for more than gratitude lists and holiday plans. May we make room to experience the gratitude, cherish the connections, and savor the moments unfolding right in front of us.
Because sometimes, the most meaningful part of life isn’t what’s waiting around the corner. It’s who’s sitting beside us right now.
Until next time,
~Nhi Ma Do, DMSc, PA-C, FMCP-M, DipACLM, Blue Zones® Certified Health Professional
