Assignment: For our first day, we are going to go dark -- literally. We’ll take a break from our sense of sight so we can pay attention to everything our other senses are telling us.
As I sit and think about this assignment, what comes to mind is my morning walk with Sadie. Because it's so early, the sun hasn't come up to lighten the sky. Lamp posts leave a pool of light on each corner, but it's dark in between. I can see stars for miles, and every now and then I catch a shooting star!
With every step I'm aware of things around me because the neighborhood is still quiet and sleepy. The occasional sound of traffic on the distant streets reaches me from time to time. Sadie's dog tags jangle with each step, which sometimes awaken a few of the neighborhood dogs who bark once or twice. Friday mornings bring the clang of dumpsters being emptied. Some days there's rustling under a bush, or up in the tree. I imagine it's a critter or a bird, telling it's young that it's time to start the day.
Now that summer is over, there's a slight chill in the air. The air near the park is a few degrees cooler than the asphalt and sidewalks, which hold the heat from the day before. Sprinklers that kick on bring the scent of wet grass, or wet desert. Creosote when it gets damp has a very unique smell, very pleasant to me. Sometimes the scent of houses wafts its way out: one neighbor must smoke indoors; Julie does laundry early and I can smell her dryer sheets drifting along in a breeze; a really good morning might bring the scent of bacon frying .... makes my mouth water every time!
Since it's dark, I don't use my sense of touch for much - perhaps to pat Sadie if there's another dog nearby just to let her know that she doesn't need to bark. In the desert, many of our creatures are nocturnal, so reaching out and touching something ... well, this old Gal doesn't do it!
We are very dependent on visual cues as we navigate our way through our days. We've all heard the saying "Stop and smell the roses." I think that's just another euphemism to remind you to use your other senses more often. Tune in and listen to sounds, or smell what's in the air. Challenge yourself to take notice of these things. You'll be happy you did. :)
