Savior the Moments

Back in the '90s I was the Dateline Timeline self-proclaimed Queen. If you recall the NBC News show Dateline, you may remember Jane Pauley had a segment in the show in which she would name four events from some time in the past and viewers could guess what year those events occurred. The last event she mentioned was always music related such as "'Baby Come Back' by Player led the music charts." I was very successful with guessing the correct year in these Dateline Timeline segments and I owe my success to these music clues. Back then, as now, I find songs to be reliable triggers to past moments in my life. Moments, not memories, but often just as memorable.

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, I'd like to highlight the idea of Moments. Moments, as I see them, are different than memories. To me, a memory is an event, such as a trip to Paris, running a marathon, a wedding, a graduation, etc. Moments, on the other hand, are those split seconds of time that happen and to which we often don't pay much attention. Maybe we are so busy taking photos while walking around Paris that we neglect to notice the aroma of the boulangeries, or we are so focused on achieving our marathon personal best that we don't appreciate the crisp and refreshing perfect-for-running early morning air filling our lungs.

Moments are fleeting. They are very often overlooked.

Thanksgiving is the holiday where we acknowledge all we have to be thankful for in our lives. It is a holiday where we gather, often with family members we haven't seen in a while and enjoy food and each other's company. This Thanksgiving, as we gather with our loved ones, I would like to encourage us pause and take in the moments of the day.

Let's not just look around the table at our family and friends. Let's take the time to fully see them. Notice them. Notice the details. Similarly, as we are conversing at dinner, are we simply hearing people talk or are we actively listening? Ask additional questions. Dive deeper into the conversation. Truly listen to what is being shared.

We often get caught up in the "where" and "what" of life events. But this Thursday, on Thanksgiving, let's take time and focus on the "who" of the day: the people, the company, the companionship, and all the related moments. As lyrics from one of my favorite bands says, "Turns out, not where, but who you're with that really matters." (Thank you, Dave Matthews). This Thanksgiving let's give thanks and savior all those moments with those around us. They won't be show up on a Dateline Timeline but they will be moments well-lived.

Happy Thanksgiving!

About the Author: Barbara Hagen is the Vice President of Marketing and Sales here at ThriftBooks. She has more than 20 years of experience as a senior marketing executive, with an undergraduate degree in marketing from Syracuse University, an MBA in international marketing from NYU's Stern School of Business, and an MS in data analytics, also from NYU's Stern School.

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