Sunday 17 March 2013

Week 12: On the nose.

I'm acutely aware of the fact that my new home has not been mine for long. The biggest give away?  It smells like someone else.

The odour is not unpleasant or offensive, it simply doesn't smell like my home.

This realisation got me to thinking and I realised that smell is often one of those things that is ignored until it hits you in the snout. Maybe it's the smell of roses that brings back a memory of a loved one, or the smell of freshly baked bread triggering a rumble in your belly. On other occasions it might be the stench of a public toilet or your dog's poorly timed gas release that has you gasping for breath and searching for the quickest escape route.

Smell is a powerful sense; triggering memories and bodily responses within an instant. To test this, I took some time to look at this picture and see what happened. Within a moment, I could smell the salt air ...



Smell is a wonderful mindfulness tool as well. In this moment, right now, what can you smell? Can you experience it without creating a dialogue about it? Without making it right or wrong, good or bad?

This week I'm going to follow my nose. I will take the time to close my eyes and simply notice the smells around me.


1 comment:

  1. Oh yes I can still remember the smell and feel of my nana's place. Lovely idea to tune in and follow your nose x

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