I am a very sensory person. I touch, I smell, see, taste and hear….in the extreme. I don’t think I am any different than most people but I do work to increase my awareness of things around me. You can too. In my Be Your Finest Art Creative Play Journal I give examples of exercises you can do to stimulate your senses; put them on high-alert.
I love to walk into our bathroom after Dan has dressed and put on cologne. He has always worn cologne. When we dated I loved the smell of his English Leather and British Sterling (If you were dating in the 1960s you will know those names!) I loved that he took the time to add an extra touch of effort to our times together. Often I pause and inhale his “presence” even when he isn’t in the room. It’s comforting. And it is a statement that he isn’t content to just leave a trail of manly sweat after his workout. He values the importance of giving me a gift.How often does a fragrance give you a warm feeling? During Dan’s Mastermind event here at the Sanctuary this past weekend, we experienced a rarity in our area by getting snow bound. Restaurants, stores, offices all closed down because of the weather. This created an “opportunity for a solution” for meals for this group of about 26 people who had been fortunate enough to fly into Nashville before airports began canceling flights. Our neighbors, Olin and Leigh came to our rescue, proving Plan B is often much better than Plan A anyway! That evening they brought over a huge pot of chili. The fragrance filled the Sanctuary and I mentioned to several people that the smell of chili in winter is comfort food. Just the thought makes you warmer.
How often does a fragrance give you a warm feeling? During Dan’s Mastermind event here at the Sanctuary this past weekend, we experienced a rarity in our area by getting snow bound. Restaurants, stores, offices all closed down because of the weather. This created an “opportunity for a solution” for meals for this group of about 26 people who had been fortunate enough to fly into Nashville before airports began canceling flights. Our neighbors, Olin and Leigh came to our rescue, proving Plan B is often much better than Plan A anyway! That evening they brought over a huge pot of chili. The fragrance filled the Sanctuary and I mentioned to several people that the smell of chili in winter is comfort food. Just the thought makes you warmer.
If I smell Lily of the Valley I immediately picture the tiny white flowers that grew all around the foundation of my grandmother’s farm house in Ohio. As a little girl, I thought those little tiny blossoms were magical trumpets for the fairies. I have some out our back door and think of my grandmother when I pick them to bring their dainty fragrance inside. I also think of my sweet mother-in-law, Clara. She loved that fragrance and it became her signature perfume.
When I apply lemon oil to the old oak table in our kitchen I am transported back to when I was in eighth grade and my mother got her first teaching job at the local middle school. It was the first time I can remember being able to buy new furniture. Mom bought several pieces of maple furniture. They weren’t expensive or impressive but to my young mind they were the most beautiful pieces of furniture I had ever seen. I lovingly polished that wood to a glossy shine every weekend. I do the same now for the old oak table passed on to us from Dan’s family. So many memories of games played, conversations and laughter and many good meals. Lemon oil definitely fills my head with special memories.
What fragrance evokes a special memory for you? Take a moment and write me a few lines about it. I’d love to hear.
Leave a Reply