Introducing Savor 180

Have you ever had one of those moments when you’re so inspired that your life has new purpose? That you’re ready to grab life by the horns and really dive in? That no dream seems impossible?

Believe it or not, I had one of those moments a few months ago at a marketing conference. Dustin Garis, one of the speakers, talked about how he traveled to different parts of the world to discover the meaning of life. What he concluded, after talking to many people from different cultures and countries, is that it doesn’t matter the number of days you live, but the number of memorable days you have. I’ve heard something similar—in fact, I used to have a wall plaque that said “It’s not the number of breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away.” It’s always been an inspiring thought, but it never really hit me until that conference.

Mr. Garis then asked how many days out of one month the typical person remembers. I thought maybe 15 or, at worst, 10. I was floored to hear that on average, we remember 3 days. 3 days out of 30! He went on to explain that 90% of our activities are done out of habit—we take the same route to work, we order the same thing off the menu at the restaurants we frequent. On top of that, 50% of those activities we do subconsciously. So basically, we’re on autopilot for about half our lives. No wonder all of our days blend together and it’s hard to remember the things we did even yesterday! And studies have shown that the everyday mundane—this being in autopilot—can lead to boredom, sadness, depression, and even a shorter life.

This newfound knowledge both saddened and inspired me. To be honest, over the past few years, I’ve come to realize how hard it is to “grow up.” Being an adult truly sucks sometimes and it sure ain’t for sissies. But when I think about how I want to live my life and I ask myself if I just want to have a “get through the day” mentality or “savor each day” mentality, it’s a no-brainer. Life’s too short to waste each day in autopilot. As the great Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. ”

So my new goal for the new year is not just about losing weight. It’s not just about eating right or being a better parent or better spouse. It’s about savoring each day and having a more memorable life. My goal? To remember 30 out of 30 days and to make each day great.

So I’m starting a program called Savor 180. It’s 180 tasks (1 per day for 180 days, which happens to be about 6 months) to help you savor your days more. It’s a half a year to turn your life around (a complete 180 turn, if you will), and I hope you’ll join me in this journey.

I’ll share a new tip on Twitter and Facebook with #Savor180 each day for 180 days, so make sure to follow me on social so you don’t miss the tip of the day. I also look forward to reading your comments and stories on how the tips helped you savor your day more, so feel free to share them using the program hashtag. Let’s start 2016 empowered, inspired, and ready to savor each day!