Come to Your Senses
An ode to the sensory experience…
The sunlight shines again, flooding through the early morning haze. A ghostly wisp of morning fog creeps across the old sheep pen, and a blanket of tiny shimmers covers the ground below. I am awake again, grateful to be here. I love the atmosphere of this land, ever-changing. A suspenseful surprise for me every day, even at its grayest. I eagerly and quietly tip toe down the creaky stairs to glimpse out my window and ask, “So what have you brought us today?” Too little attention is paid to the subtleties that occur during the typical morning rush that catapults one out the door off to some other required destination. What we miss and what we leave behind in our wake is our awareness.
The bark of a neighbor’s dog cutting through the air and echoing against the sky. A rooster’s crow in the distance and the smell of the damp earth underfoot. Is there a more beautiful morning melody than the call of birds in the wee hours rejoicing and proclaiming that they are here? The sheer exultation of existence. This is true abundance, these simple joys and pleasures to be felt with our senses. What gifts surround us daily that we take for granted and only yearn for in our final days. The sun upon our face, the breeze dancing against our skin, the kaleidoscope of colors in the sky, the taste of our grandmother’s cooking, the soft cushion of grass, and the nostalgic smell of lilacs.
How fortunate we are to be here now, free to take it all in at our leisure, for what feels like endless days ahead. How foolish we’ve been to waste this treasure of time here running around and keeping our heads down, ignoring it all or forgetting so fast. How grateful we are for the chance to remember the magic, the wonder, and the awe of breathing, of feeling, of seeing, touching, and tasting, of taking in the scent of the rose or summer rain.
The Earth gently asks us to give these experiences with our senses the attention they deserve. Let yourself bask in the momentary happiness without mindlessly rushing off again. Let the feeling stay with you all day and fill you with anticipation for tomorrow’s fortune. These simplicities of life happen to be the most delicious and satisfying meals for the soul. These are the moments that connect us to the mystery and help us feel alive. So yes, let us slow down, and of equal importance and consequence, let us remember to bring awareness to the wonder of our ephemeral sensory experience.
In the spirit of Oprah’s favorite things, what would your senses choose as their favorite things of the upcoming seasons? Could you make a bucket list of experiences for each sense? What smells, sights, and sounds do you want to surround yourself with? What new or familiar flavors do you want to taste again? What do you want to hold with your hands and feel on your skin? Some of mine include seeing the Milky Way, hearing the ocean that surrounds Acadia National Park, the sweet and spicy scent of tomato plants, feeling my hands in warm soil again, and tasting fries and white vinegar in the summer heat like we used to do in Ogunquit. I would love to read some of yours below.