Lessons in Gratitude Day 603

This evening as I was winding down, getting myself ready for bed, I became aware of the wonderful smells of the roast chicken and sweet potatoes I had cooked myself for dinner for tomorrow evening. This past week I had moments of efficiency during which I cooked meals for several days ahead. I have more dinners cooked than I’ve had evenings in which to eat them. The smells of rosemary and thyme that I used to spice the dish are wafting through the entire house and I find myself smiling and nodding in appreciation at the wonderful scents. So often when I am expressing gratitude for my senses, I don’t often focus on the sense of smell and yet, as I am reminded this evening, the myriad scents in the world around me can be just as wonderful to partake in as gazing at breathtaking vistas, being swept away by a beautiful piece of music or the cry of a hawk, or the relief of a cool breeze blowing on sweat-dampened skin on a hot day.

I am grateful this evening for olfaction–the sense of smell. It is yet another wonder of the human body that so enhances my quality of life in that it provides me the ability to sense and appreciate another beautiful part of the natural world. Once again, when I think about all the complex interactions of the physical, chemical, biological sciences that come together in the simple act of smelling, of taking in scents and smells and making meaning from what we’re sensing is nothing short of miraculous. In addition, the role of the olfactory organs in helping us smell and taste our food cannot be understated. Simply put, it is our sense of smell that connects with our ability to taste. If you can’t smell, your ability to taste is significantly affected.I am grateful for all my senses, and because I also tend to root for the underdogs, I wanted to give a little shout out to a less appreciated sense.

But I am grateful for the relatively good functioning of all my senses. I have worn glasses for the majority of my life, and in spite of the fact that I don’t see very well without them, I am grateful for the sight I have.  It has afforded me the opportunity to witness many beautiful, wonderful, miraculous things as well as the more “mundane” things of everyday life. But what is truly mundane? Literally every day I see something that makes me smile, that brings me pleasure, that deepens my appreciation of my life. Everywhere I turn I see something that I am grateful for, including the ability to see.

Tonight as I was reveling in the savory food smells wafting through my house, I closed my eyes and smiled, thinking how wonderful it was. The song, “What A Wonderful World” popped into my head. It reminds me of how the simple act of noticing the world around me, through whichever sense is activated at the time constantly reminds me that this truly is a wonderful world. And for that I am truly grateful.

(Songwriters: George David Weiss, George Douglas, Bob Thiele)