Happy Chinese New Year! The Year of the Horse!
Expect things to move fast, with independence rewarded. It is often a year of pioneering, creative pursuits, and breaking free from limitations. So, an expansive year lies ahead, especially for those born in 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, and 2026.
Last newsletter, I shared about the Buddhist monks’ pilgrimage across 10 states, walking for peace, compassion, and nonviolence. Well, they completed their 108-day walk in Washington, D.C., on February 10. Thousands turned out to greet them. Some traveled long distances to witness those final steps. One woman traveled all the way from Washington State. Looking at their arrival videos, I could see and feel what people came to offer: respect and gratitude.
The number 108 is auspicious and fitting for their walk. In Eastern traditions, it represents wholeness and completion, qualities many wish for right now and feel are sorely lacking, both personally and collectively. I kept thinking about how often we miss the opportunity to honor completion in our own lives. We move on quickly, even when something good has happened.
Our lives are built on the "next"—the next task, the next notification, the next milestone. We have become experts at starting and often lose sight of appreciating the finish. We move on so quickly that we fail to savor the goodness of an achievement.
We are so busy, distracted by both our immediate world and the world at large, that the often good moments, worthy moments come and go, barely noticed. A thoughtful text. A stranger holding the door. It is there, then it is gone.
This is where gratitude, our month’s theme, can continue offering support. Gratitude for the moments that uplift you. Gratitude for the goodness and kindness that is still there. Gratitude for what you have and what is available to you.
I say let these moments stay. Appreciate and hold the moments that make you feel good, especially at a time when so many do not feel good or hopeful.
Here is the part you can try right now. When something good is happening, even something small, stay with it for 20 to 30 seconds. Let it sink in. Science tells us the brain holds onto what feels threatening more easily than what feels good. This small pause helps the good register. With repetition, you begin to build positive neural pathways away from the negative.
The 20–30 Second Savor
Choose one good thing in this moment.
Stay with it for 20 to 30 seconds.
Then write three lines:
- What is happening right now?
- Where do you feel it in your body?
- What shifts after you stay with it?
Personal Reflection
This reflection, inspired by the practices in Take a Shot at Happiness, helps you integrate what you have just read.
Photo Op
Make one photograph that holds a moment you savored. Choose the object, place, or detail that carries the feeling for you. Frame it slowly. Be present to the good you chose to notice.
Action Opportunity
Look at your photo and write a short paragraph:
What did this moment give you, and what do you want to remember about it later?
If you want a quick check-in on what supports your happiness right now, my Happiness Quiz is here:
Ways to stay connected ⬇️
My latest Best Holistic Life article, a podcast conversation, the Take a Shot at Happiness App, and my transformational travel journeys are all here to support your wholebeing in mind, body, and spirit.
