Fulfilling Your Senses

Whenever I think of our 5 senses (sight, touch, smell, hear, taste) I remember my 2nd and 3rd grade teacher (we had two classes in the same room) Mrs. Knorr teaching us with charts and and cards. Those images came to mind over this past week, as I felt within a 1 or 2 day period I had unintentionally satisfied all of them.

By satisfied I mean to say that the minimum quota was filled. If my senses were an empty glass, it would have been replenished to the brim. I believe when we are discouraged most in our lives, when our existence feels meaningless, numb and sterile, we ought to seek to fill our senses, each one of them, as quickly as possible. When you can't remember the last time you've seen, touched, smelled, heard or tasted something beautiful---something that makes your heart melt just a little bit---it's time to get up and seek it; because when you do, you'll be reminded that we have one life- one chance- one shot to soak up as much of it as you can before it's too late. No?

So I felt satisfied this past week as I reflected on these things and ways in which my body soaked up my surroundings. We went to hear a beautiful orchestra and chorus play the music of Bach. We sat on the balcony and as I closed my eyes and listened to the participants belt their voices and play their instruments, the echoes bounced against the ceilings and into my ears. My hearing sense was being overwhelmed.Before the concert they instructed us to come get chairs to sit on, since we did not have tickets. We walked down two annoyingly long hallways to get our own chair to sit on, which in my mind was pretty ridiculous. Anyway, as we approached the end of the last hall, I realized that we were walking into an ornately designed chapel. That word can't describe the beauty of this room though. It was completely dark and quiet, except for the shadow of a priest in his meditation, and the light that was shining from the hallway. Every inch of the walls were covered in detail. My eyes were overwhelmed with beauty!
An occurrence much less beautiful, though equally satisfying (as odd as this sounds), I was walking around Ikea with a friend the day before and I just sat there and smelled the wonderful candles. Each one was so unique and so beautiful, and being surrounded by all the items I one day would like to fill my home with, those smells sparked images of my future with a family and a house. (That MUST be a chic thing cause I could never imagine a guy doing that...maybe if he smelled Lowes Home Improvement or cut grass?).
I say this not to boast, mind you, but sometimes in a great while I eat food that makes my soul smile. Since I know what kinds of foods I enjoy, I use those ingredients in my dishes. I made that pork/bacon/veggie stuff with nice pasta and alfredo sauce (with really expensive cheese) drizzled heartily with balsamic glaze. For dessert we had a 3 layer cheesecake with a ganache topping. It's not the most amazing food out there, but it makes me happy to eat it. So my taste buds were satisfied here, definitely.The feeling of cold air to me is so nice, especially on a nice brisk evening when I'm in a good mood and walking by myself. The other night I was walking by myself at night listening to my iPod, and the feeling of that cold air was just so refreshing and automatically put me in a good mood. My touch senses were being filled as well.Anyway, I don't have too much of a point to this, except to say that it's important to fill your senses once in a while, whatever that might look like. Have any recent experiences where you've done this and it's refreshed you?