Why awareness makes our lives more than survival
Other creatures live. We get to live and know we are alive. That distinction may be the single greatest feature of being human.
A squirrel gathers acorns. A hawk circles for prey. Both are exquisitely adapted to survive. But neither pauses to marvel at the turning of leaves, or to wonder at the vastness of the sky. Their lives are aimed at propagation. Ours are capable of appreciation.
This is the heart of what sets us apart. We don’t just experience life—we interpret it, savor it, step outside of it long enough to name it beautiful, tragic, ironic, or sublime. Our awareness allows us to make meaning, not just chase survival.
The Double Gift of Consciousness
It’s easy to take this for granted. We wake, we work, we eat, we sleep. And yet, beneath these routines lies a rare, double-layered gift:
- The gift of existence itself: the chance to be alive at all, against the infinite odds of nonexistence.
- The gift of self-awareness: the ability to recognize, reflect on, and value that existence while we still have it.
Without the second gift, the first might still be precious—but it would go unrecognized. Awareness completes the loop. It allows us to step back and say: This matters. This moment is good. This life is worth savoring.
When We Forget
But here’s the rub: humans are also uniquely talented at forgetting. We slip into autopilot. We trade our capacity for wonder for checklists and deadlines. We reduce our days to utility instead of treating them as opportunities for appreciation.
This forgetting is what philosophers and poets have long warned us against. It’s what Dawkins calls the “anesthetic of familiarity.” It’s what makes us miss the miracle because it looks too much like ordinary life.
Practicing Appreciation
So how do we resist the slide into numbness? By practicing the art of noticing:
- Pause mid-task. Look up from your desk. Notice the light falling across the floor. That’s life presenting itself to you.
- Name it. Don’t just feel glad—say it to yourself: This is good. I’m glad to be here for this.
- Build micro-rituals. A favorite mug in the morning. A walk without your phone. A minute before bed to replay one moment worth savoring.
These aren’t just indulgences. They’re exercises in being human. They remind us that our gift isn’t only to survive another day—it’s to appreciate that we get another day at all.
Final Thought
We are the species that makes meaning. We are the creatures who can stand in awe of sunsets, symphonies, or even a single breath.
That’s our inheritance. That’s our responsibility. That’s our joy.
To be human is not just to live. It is to appreciate.
For more like this, visit the broader project at life-savor.com, or explore the Life Savor book itself.
To learn more about Life Savor’s philosophy,
read Life Savor: Treasuring Our Gift of Life by Erik Victor Reed.
