Two years ago, after a marvelous Alaskan cruise with my wife, I committed myself to holding on to something of the feeling I had on that vacation. I didn't want to lose the more peaceful pace that the trip seemed to nurture inside of me. My stress was lowered and my spirit rekindled. On that vacation, something was born inside of me: a thirst for slowing down and appreciating life more. When we returned home, I began referring to this alternative living pace as "savoring pace."

I experience savoring pace as:

• seeing more clearly
• listening more carefully
• thinking more deeply.

By "seeing more clearly," I mean paying more attention to the ordinary and extraordinary in life. For me, "listening more carefully" is leaning more into the sounds, and just as important, the silences of life. Finally, "thinking more deeply" has to do with having a "searching soul," constantly being on the alert for new insight and understanding. These attitudes and ...