Bonjour Royal friends!
Welcome to my blog, a ‘tongue-in-chic’ happiness lifestyle guide from a funny princess point of view!
Have you ever felt like time is galloping away on a runaway train like it’s got a triple shot of espresso in the fuel tank? One moment you’re sipping your morning verveine citronnée in the smile of backyard sunshine and —poof! —the next moment the stars stipple in the high arc of darkness, and your to-do list has turned into the royal scroll of shame. You’re left scratching your head (being careful not to topple your tiara) wondering where did this darn day go!
Fear not, my fine friends. Positive psychology has a glittering gem for us, and it’s called savoring. Oui, savoring! Not just for your madeleines or your morning mocha, but for your moments—those tiny treasures hidden in plain sight. In my estimation, savoring is the crown jewel of slowing down time without needing a magic wand, a time machine, or a royal decree.
What is Savoring?
Savoring is the simple yet profound act of being fully present and emotionally engaged in the positive moments of your life. It’s about stretching those golden seconds like royal taffy—delighting in them, lingering in them, soaking in them like a warm bath.
Researchers Bryant and Veroff, in their book Savoring: A New Model of Positive Experience, explore the concept of savoring life and having the capacity to be present for, appreciate and enrich positive experiences. In other words, savoring is your brain’s way of popping the cork on the champagne of life…without waiting for a special occasion.
I find that savoring is like making an art out of pausing—yes, pausing—to fully bask in the beauty of what’s happening right now. When you relish the aroma of your lavender bubble bath, delight in the symphony of birds at dawn, or feel pure glee from your dog’s tail-wag welcome, you are not just living—you are crowning your moments with meaning.
And here’s the delicious psychological twist: savoring makes time feel like it’s slowing down. Yes, it’s a thing. An article by Diana Raab, Ph.D., published in Psychology Today reflects that one way to stop the time getting away from us phenom is to stop and smell the proverbial roses.
When you savor, time plays a trick. It expands. Moments stretch like golden taffy and feel richer, fuller, more…majestic. Suddenly, your day isn’t a blur—it’s a ballroom dance, a series of graceful waltzes instead of frantic (albeit fancy) footwork.
How Savoring Slows the Clock
When we savor, we engage our full attention on the present, which overrides the brain’s habit of scanning for the next ten tasks. Instead of mentally sprinting into the future like a court jester chasing the jingles on his hat, you invite your mind to sit down, cross its legs, and revel in the now.
This gives your brain a sense of temporal fullness—you feel like your life isn’t rushing by, but unfolding in luscious, luxurious moments. It’s the difference between wolfing down a croissant in your car versus sitting in a Parisian style café and letting the delicate flakes melt on your tongue. One is a blur. The other? A delightful memory you can revisit like a stroll through an enchanting garden.
A Few Ways to Practice Savoring
- Savor Bygones: Revisit joyful memories and truly feel them again. Flip through an old photo album or replay a fabulous dinner party in your mind. (Caviar consciousness!)
- Savor Right Now: Linger in the small pleasures. That lavender-scented lotion? Breathe it in while you rub it in and rub it in like you’re massaging royalty. Because…you are.
- Savor Looking Forward : Anticipate something lovely. Even planning a picnic (a beautiful blanket but tiaras optional) can bring as much delight as the actual event. Anticipating is a favorite savoring habit of mine. I not only get the fun of the event, but I stake my claim in the mental space that lives before it happens.
Final Thought from My Palace Desk
If you’ve been feeling like time is slipping through your fingers faster than the last éclair at a palace banquet, know this: You can reclaim it. Not with a clock, but with a choice.
Choose to savor. Choose to sip life slowly, to swirl your moments like a fine vintage, to delight in the details. Because when you savor the now, you don’t just stretch time—you stretch joy.
And that, my precious poppets, is how you live your royally happy life!
So, the next time life feels like it’s zooming faster than a royal motorcade late for tea, remember: You hold the scepter. Savor a sight. Linger in laughter. Sip your joy slowly.
Time may fly, but you, darling, can learn to float.
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Royally Yours with love, laughter, and limitless joy, 
Princess Diane Von Brainisfried
x♥x♥x♥,
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Dame Diane Uniman, Aka Princess Diane von Brainisfried, is an attorney turned motivational speaker, certified positive psychology life coach and award-winning writer. She wrote Bonjour, Breast Cancer-I’m Still Smiling…Wit, Wisdom, and Optimism for Beating the Breast Cancer Blues.