This morning after the men left for work, I fed the animals, did a round of early chores, and made sure there was plenty of food for cooking later (there always is). Then, temporarily ignoring a long list of more important things that really are not more important, I laced up and swam through the thick, low-hung fog to grab a few miles.
Just as Handsome and I had noticed earlier this morning during Hot Tub Summit, everything outdoors was amplified in the fog. Louder, stronger smelling, brighter, crisper, yet diffused. Absolutely magical. So, while running I did my best to memorize the details (sans notebook) and am now sharing them as a Senses Inventory. Hope you enjoy!
See: Prairie grasses bent and blackened from the damp. Well worn foot path curving ahead of me, slightly uphill, between fallen limbs. Our house and barn both ghosted in the distance. Geese bathing excitedly in the pond. Dulcinea (baby llama) watching me from the field-dividing green gate.
Hear: Geese honking softly and splashing in the water. A neighbor’s donkey braying and a different neighbor’s hound dog howling. A diesel pickup truck coming to life. Really good music in my ears: Today was FUN and Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy.
Touch: Feet pounding the soft wet sand, laces just the right amount of extremely tight. Legs warm and throbbing. Belly empty, cavernous feeling. Sweat drying everywhere on my skin, cold breeze on warm muscles. For the first time in what seems like forever, my hair is plastered against my face and neck. It is wonderful. Heavy, cold moisture on the fronts of my eyeballs.
Smell: Rain. Wet earth. That intoxicating, peaty, mossy, rich, clean perfume… Crisp pine greens and spicy cedar aromas. Decaying leaves. My own saltiness. I can smell springtime yearning for us just like we yearn for her.
Taste: A trace of cinnamony snickerdoodle milk and coffee from breakfast. Sweet and creamy, so good. And salt when I lick the corner of my mouth.
Feel: I feel deeply excited for our future, for our parents and children, for our friends. I feel a sense of overcoming right around the corner. I feel inspired and capable, less conflicted than I have felt in months. Maybe years. Steady.
Think: I am almost always thinking of my girls, especially right now. I am also thinking of my friend Marci and her beautiful little family. I am thinking of my Mom and all the hearts she juggles and tends to, including her own. I am thinking of our good friends Jon and Margi, of book reviews I can’t wait to share, and of a book I want to write myself. I have a lunch date in about an hour; so I’m wondering if she would notice that I just air dry this sweat, and skip a shower?
Do you practice Senses Inventories? I would love a glimpse of your day. It is so calming to deliberately notice and articulate the seen and unseen details of your life, just for a moment. It’s really helpful to get you out of worry and into appreciation, too.
I’ll consider it a personal favor if here in the comments you share any part of your senses with us. Thank you so much for reading!
Very little grows on jagged rock. Be ground. Be crumbled, so wildflowers will come up where you are.
~Rumi
XOXOXOXO