“We don’t remember days—we remember moments. And the ones that stay with us are rarely the loudest. They’re the ones where we felt fully alive, fully seen, or simply still enough to notice the beauty around us.”
Gary L. Fretwell, The Magic of a Moment
Have you ever come across the word Shibumi? It’s a Japanese concept that describes a quiet kind of beauty—elegance without effort, simplicity with depth. In a world constantly pushing us toward more noise, speed, and stuff, Shibumi invites us to slow down and notice the richness in less.
I think about this a lot, especially in light of something I deeply believe: life’s magic doesn’t happen in grand gestures or perfect moments—it shows up in the small, ordinary ones we choose to notice.
When I wrote The Magic of a Moment, I wanted to remind myself—and others—that we don’t have to wait for the stars to align to feel joy, connection, or meaning. Those experiences are already here, quietly waiting for us in the rhythm of everyday life.
Picture this: you wake up and take a few extra seconds to feel the sun on your face. You hear laughter from the next room or notice how the wind rustles through the trees. That’s Shibumi. That’s magic. It’s the decision to pause and savor, to choose presence over pace.
Living this way isn’t complicated, but it does take intention. Here are three simple ways to bring more Shibumi—and more meaningful moments—into your life:
1. Pause and Notice
Carve out 30 seconds each day to simply be. No phone, no agenda—just awareness. Notice something small: the warmth of your tea, the pattern of sunlight, the sound of your own breath. These micro-moments of stillness are often the ones that shift our perspective.
2. Acknowledge Someone
Say something kind. Text a friend. Compliment a stranger. Connection doesn’t require fanfare—it just needs sincerity. Often, the moments we most remember are the ones when someone made us feel seen.
3. Capture a Win
At the end of your day, reflect on one moment that stood out. Maybe it was peaceful, funny, or heartfelt. Write it down or simply replay it in your mind. Over time, this habit rewires your brain to look for beauty and meaning.
So today, take a deep breath. Step back from the noise. And allow yourself to experience life not as something to conquer, but something to feel. There’s magic all around you—subtle, simple, and quietly powerful.
Let’s not miss it.
