Possibilities to please the senses
To participate in life we must experience life through our five senses. We must see the world, hear its subtle messages, smell its flavors, taste its sweetness and touch its surface.
D. Wayne Dworsky
As part of my Winter Possibilities List I included the idea of creating a sublist of activities centered around each of my senses. That generated some interest among you, my sweet readers, so I decided to share with you that list as it looks today.
First, a few thoughts. For each category I have included activities that can be done at home and others that take me out into the world. I have also included activities that I routinely do, but intend to do with more mindfulness, as well as some that I haven’t done in a while. And finally, this is a possibilities list, so I may or may not do each of the items on the list, and I will surely add more things as ideas come to me.
Vision
- Add a pop of color to my outfit for the day.
- Visit a museum.
- Watch a sunrise or sunset.
- Look for shapes in the clouds.
- Work on a jigsaw puzzle.
- Doodle or color with my markers.
- Take a walk in nature with a focus on all of the things there are to see.
- Look through old photos.
- Really look at my loved ones, including my sweet dog.
- Get my fingernails and toenails painted.
Hearing
- Go to a live concert.
- Go to a comedy show, lecture, poetry reading, or other event that focuses on words.
- Read a story or a poem out loud.
- Listen to a new song on Spotify.
- Spend time outdoors listening to the sounds of nature.
- Participate in a sound bath.
- Listen to a meditation recording.
- Mindfully listen to another person.
- Listen for kind words and laughter.
- Play a song on the piano.
Smell
- Put essential oils in my diffuser.
- Buy fresh cut flowers and enjoy the scent.
- Cook barbecue ribs in the slow cooker.
- Bake something fragrant.
- Take time to smell my coffee before I start drinking.
- Smell my new baby great-granddaughter.
- Go out and smell the rain.
- Take a walk in nature and focus on the smells.
- Put peppermint and lavender oil in my foot lotion.
- Put lemons, limes, or oranges in my disposal.
Taste
- Take a cooking class.
- Go to a wine tasting.
- Try a new food or drink.
- Mindfully drink my coffee, savoring each sip.
- Put lemon or lime juice in my water.
- Experiment with spices.
- Dissolve a mint in my mouth without biting it.
- Eat slowly and mindfully.
- Create a list of top 10 foods and incorporate them into my meal plans.
- Have a caramelized banana pie at Ruth’s Chris,
Touch
- Get a massage.
- Walk barefoot and pay attention to the sensation.
- Wear my comfy clothes.
- Take a mindful shower, enjoying the hot water.
- Hold hands with a loved one.
- Hug someone.
- Pet the dog.
- Wrap up in a soft blanket.
- Do a body scan meditation.
- Play with Silly Putty, Play-Doh, or something similar
Your turn
That’s what I have so far. I’d love to hear your ideas for sensory activities.
- Do you have any suggestions for my lists?
- Do you pay more attention, or devote more time, to some senses over others?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.
Image created using ChatGPT.
Hi Christie, what a wonderful idea and that is such a fabulously comprehensive list that I can’t think of anything else to add or suggest! I look forward to hearing how you go with this. I’d be eager to do them all! Thanks for sharing and linking up with #WWWhimsy xo
Thank you, Min. I’ve already done a few of these activities. It’s amazing how a change in perspective…or where you focus your attention…can change even common experiences. Thanks, as always, for hosting #WWWhimsy
That that’s a super thought out list Christie. I like how intentional you’re being with your approach – and I have nothing to offer in regard to adding to it. I tend to coast through life with a ‘one day at a time’ approach, so lists are a thing of my past. That being said, I can see the value in putting together some goals to inspire yourself to be more present in the moment. Have fun!
Thanks Leanne. Making lists seems to be ingrained in my personality. I must say the lists I’ve been making since retirement are a lot more enjoyable than the working days lists!
What a great idea Christie, and a wonderful list. I’m not sure that I give enough time to the senses, but I’m definitely more intentional in that regard than I was when I was young. I love your header image. The colours are beautiful.
Thanks Jennifer! I thought that image turned out really fun. I just asked AI to create a vibrant image that represented all of the senses, and this is what it came up with. AI scares me a little, but in some circumstances, it’s pretty wonderful.
Oh, this is such a wonderful way to organize goals and such! I think your lists are pretty comprehensive!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Thanks Marsha. I’ve been having fun with them already.
What a fabulous idea. Love your possibilities list.
Thanks Joanne! I’m having fun with all the possibilities.
Hi Christie a great list here and most of them are so easy to do. It is just a matter of doing it. Love your possibilities list. x
Yes, Sue, a matter of doing it with mindfulness and joy.
These are fabulous ideas Christie! I love your creativity.
Deb #Teamwwwhimsy
Thanks Debbie.
I haven’t seen you around since I got back to blogging so I thought I’d make sure you’re still here. You understand. I like this post about five senses and wonder if you were in blogland back when we all did Five Senses Friday? We’d take a minute, focus on what we were feeling, write it down, then post it. It was one of those group blog challenges that was easy and meaningful and fun. Simpler times I guess.
I’m here, Ally. Thanks for checking on me. I’m glad you are back and will definitely stop by. I was not part of the Five Senses Friday, but it sould lovely. As you said, simpler times.
I love these suggestions Christie, and your lists are wide an all encompassing, so I can only add this one. For Vision, I like to look at the world through the zoom lens of a camera. Depending on the focal length I chose, the image changes. The funny thing is I rarely shoot with a zoom lens, but I really do enjoy looking the world through one.
Hey Christie, I can’t recall where I saw it, but I took one of those quizzes to figure out which of my senses was my dominant one. OK, I knew which, but it was still a fun quiz. And Hearing/Sound was my least dominant. Now I know why I love silence! I’m not one to even enjoy ambient sound – music playing in the background. Hubby has learned to use his headphones (has multiple pairs) as sound is his dominant sense. Now living in an apartment, it’s been a challenge to find the quiet. Anyway, I liked thinking how to bring in activities on all my senses. [Oh, and vision is my dominant, by far!]
That’s so interesting, Pat. I haven’t taken the quiz, but I’m pretty sure vision and hearing are pretty close to tied for my dominant senses. I can’t imagine not enjoying ambient sound. It’s a good reminder that my “normal” isn’t everyone’s. My hope is to more intentionally enjoy my dominant senses and also to cultivate my lesser senses (I’m guessing smell).
I need to print this blog post and put it on my frig to remind me of all the ways I can cultivate my senses. I never think of getting fresh flowers for myself!! Need to make that happen. Absolutely love playing with Playdoh and need to remember that for stress relief. Need to break out my keyboard again, although the sounds coming from my playing it are not necessarily pleasant. Ha!! Thank you for reminding me of some simple joys.
It was fun putting the list together, Leslie. I haven’t bought fresh flowers or played with PlayDoh in a while either, but I intend to soon. My piano playing has always been pretty rudimentary and even at that I’m out of practice, but I think it will be fun to break out the old beginner book and try a song or two.