The other day, my walk to work reminded me of one of the more important elements of finding delight and nourishment in everyday experience. As I passed some bare trees that stand in front of one of the tall buildings along the way, I noticed a bright red cardinal standing on one of the branches. He stood out in bold relief to the white of snow, and the grays and beige tones of winter. He was like a small, brilliant beacon and seeing him stopped me in my tracks. A person walking behind me stopped also, as the bird’s bright color simply required us to acknowledge its presence and take in its rich tones.

The moment came and went, and then my mind became involved in the challenges and requirements of the day. Even as I walked across Central Park, which I do as consciously as I can, my mind flitted here and there with my long to-do list related to the day. While I was aware of the trees, squirrels, and delights of the park, as usual, the earlier encounter with the cardinal had left my awareness completely! After the day was done and I came home, I opened a holiday card that brought me back to my senses. There on the card was a beautiful, bright red cardinal sitting on a snow-covered tree branch. Immediately, I remembered the cardinal from the morning and felt a pang at how I hadn’t allowed myself to savor the gift that moment of delight brought to me. In that same moment, I brought the memory back full force and felt a deep gratitude for the gift of that small moment on my way to work.

As I thought about the cardinal that evening, I was reminded of the many times a day that nature, people, animals, or some other unexpected source offers us moments of delight that we didn’t anticipate coming our way. When we notice these small things in our lives – and give them more time and attention than I did the cardinal – they can contribute to giving us a more ongoing sense of well-being and connection.

For this week’s experiment, I invite you to pay attention to the seemingly-insignificant moments that become gifts along the way when you take the time to notice and appreciate them. The key is to *bother to notice*, as most of us go on our way more quickly than we need to do so. Allow yourself to linger over experiences that touch you, rather than to jump to the next thing. Give yourself permission to savor and enjoy these small gifts that, together, are an important part of a delicious and nourishing quality of life.