Have you started writing senses inventories with me yet? I love the practice. It’s soothing in the moment and interesting to read again later, long after you might have forgotten the big parts of your day, much less the smallest details.
And January is a great time to start writing your senses inventories, too, because as I look around, so many people are pursuing a version of mindfulness and want to be more present in the moment. One of the best ways to achieve that is to really sink into the many precise details that comprise your life, your months and days and hours and minutes. Float down into it all, press everything into your skin, absorb it into your memory, and write it all down for later.
Journaling doesn’t always have to have a profound scheme. Sometimes all you need is a true and vivid snapshot.
We write to tatse life twice, in the moment and in retrospect. ~Anais Nin
Okay. Here is a senses inventory I took this afternoon. I spent 9 minutes scribbling it down. In those nine minutes my breath slowed, my thoughts drifted a bit more peacefully and I gained a sort of objectiveness about my day. Like I was an observer. Because that’s exactly what I was. And reading back over it kind of made me want to know more about the scene, as if it hinted at a good story.
Wednesday, January 10, 2018, 3:56-4:05 p.m.
See: Eyeglasses on the dining room table which should be on my face. Porcelain bowl half filled with apples in three different colors. A large clean pickle jar wrapped in black and white fabric and filled with fragrant pine and cedar branches. A chilled pothos beyond that. A thrift store disco ball and twinkle lights in the corner. Afternoon sunlight changing rapidly, the streaks of slate blue and gray, gold and silver, shifting and backlighting the oak trees in our south lawn.
Hear: Wind howling. Pacino clicking seeds and murmuring to himself, dipping his beak in water. Klaus sighing and moaning. Another fire truck in the distance.
Smell: Apples. Hay dust. Pine and cedar. Dried sweat from my tank top and running jacket.
Taste: Granola from an hour ago, sweet well water, hay dust, plain chapstick.
Touch: My calves are a bit tight but comfortable, feet happy to be in only socks after a long day in shoes. Puffy winter coat hugging me nicely, especially the stiff straight collar around my neck. The wooden crossbar of my tall chair pressing hard up into the arch of my right foot. Left leg falling asleep and tingly from being crossed too long. Hangnail on my right index finger.
Think: So many house fires this week. Is she warm enough, safe? What has she eaten today? Is Klaus sighing and moaning from contentment or boredom, or maybe exhaustion? How are Bridget and Bubbins? Do they remember us, do they miss us, are they hungry? What do my running friends think of so many beginners joining the ranks? Should I register for that spring race now, or wait a bit longer? Is it selfish to continue blogging?
Feel: Phantom feeling like I can hug her, and she hugs me back, wearing this coat. Deep sadness that it’s in my imagination only. So thankful, though, for the endless stream of blessings and encouragements. I am so proud of my husband. I hope my sister loves her quilt. Some reconnections lately have healed my heart. Feeling so aware of the gifts of home and health, closeness to God, and hope. Just so humbling. Encouraging.
Okay, that’s it!
Quick side story: That photo above is of my view now, as I type this. The Easter lily is cold and weary and aching for springtime. The two paintings stacked on the far wall of the kitchen are recent creations by my husband. Whether he actually meant for me to keep them is a mystery (he gifts most of his fun artwork to friends), but I loved them so much he would have had an awkward time prying them away, haha!
Anyway. Happy Wednesday! And best wishes with your mindfulness and soaking in of all the luscious details of your life. I am pretty convinced that this practice helps with things we can scarcely imagine or articulate.
Check in soon for a roundup of new recipe ideas and favorite podcasts, a running update, and why I am okay with not being in church right now.
Thanks for your prayers, too! They mean the world to us.
Party on, (Bruce) Wayne!
Party on, Darth (Vader)!
XOXOXOXO
I would like to thnkx for the efforts you’ve put in writing this web site. I am hoping the same high-grade web site post from you in the upcoming as well. Actually your creative writing skills has inspired me to get my own web site now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a great example of it.