Gretchen Rubin's 5 Senses

Another one of Gretchen Rubin’s gems came out a few years ago. It is called Life in Five Senses and it talks about how she explores each of the five senses. Here are two ways she explored each of the five senses that I am also interested in pursuing one day:

• Sight

1. Gretchen Rubin instituted a “daily visit”. She would  make regular pilgrimages to the same place (in her case it was the MET which is probably the ideal place to visit every day), noticing new things and seeing it differently at different times. I’ve wanted to do this but since I don’t have a car and I don’t want my parents to be forced to drive me to the same place every day (unless I picked the gym and even then I don’t go there on weekends) it is hard to arrange. My library is undergoing renovations otherwise I’d pick there. I can spend hours in the library. 

2. “Immerse yourself in sight” Gretchen Rubin did an immersive experience known as the Van Gogh Experience which is something I’d really be interested in doing. Van Gogh is my favorite artist because I feel like I have alot in common with him. When my cousin was little he loved watching Baby Van Gogh at my Grandma’s and I started watching it with him, finding the songs and colors very relaxing. As I got older I read more about Van Gogh, particularly his paintings and especially Starry Night which is without question my favorite painting. It reminds me of the lonely nights looking out my window at the asylum and taking comfort in the stars. 

-Bonus: Attend a concert. Right now my top five are Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter (my friend is seeing her in concert and I’m so jealous), Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift.

• Hearing

1. Gretchen suggests creating a playlist that will accompany you as you go through the day. This is an interesting suggestion. I have playlists for most moods, for different writing projects, for different workouts. I never created a playlist that would start in the morning and move as I move throughout my day. I think I’d like to try that. 

2. Make voice recordings of the people I love. I have to do this. At least, I can get my mom, dad’s and Justin’s voices telling me they love me and draw from that well of strength when I’m not doing okay. I’m a little bashful to ask my friends but I don’t think anyone will be weirded out. In fact, they might be flattered I want to hear their voices.

-Bonus: Try a sound bath. This is something I’m very curious about. 

• Smell

1. “Identify and capture a strong scent memory” Although I have never been a smoker, I love the smell of cigarettes. It reminds me of my Poppy and Grandma (which is weird because the smoking is what killed my grandma). Their house smelled of cigarettes and it reminds me of the places my cousins and I used to play when we were little and closer to each other (now we are all scattered). It also reminds me of my friends when I was in eighth grade and hanging out with juvenile delinquents. Most of them smoked. I don’t miss most of them but I do miss a few that were kind to me during a tough time.

2. Add fragrance. A couple of years ago my dear Aunt Dorothy got me a bracelet with lava rocks and several bottles of different fragrances as a form of aromatherapy. My favorite scent? 100 Acre Wood (no surprises there). 

-Bonus:  Those scratch and sniff stickers sound pretty cool!

• Tasting

1. Visit an international market. I’m kind of cautious about what I eat. I don’t like much seafood. I did eat a cricket once but that was only because every body in my youth group was doing it (yes peer pressure) but I don’t think I’d ever eat a bug again even if it was flavored or turned into some sort of dessert. I’d be more interested in trying different kinds of fruit.

2. Hold a taste party. Now I’m not going to do this now because it would mean infinite work for my poor parents. But someday when we have our own place Justin (who is very interested in cooking) and I will host our own taste party. We’ll sample fruits, dips, snacks, and guess what they are and what ingredients, herbs and spices are in them.

-Deprive yourself of a taste for a week. For me it would probably be hardest to go without putting extra salt on my food. I never use pepper. But salt? My parents have to pry it from my hands.

• Touch

1. Pet animals. I have a cat (Scout) and he is roughly 21 years old. Although he isn’t as frisky as he used to be, he still likes to take (supervised) walks outside, curl up on cozy blankets in the sunshine and burrow under our blankets leaving a tell tale lump. My parents have been feeding him human food lately (we were told to “keep him comfortable”) and he is very on bored with that. I love petting him and feeling him purr.

2. Play with a touch based toy like kinetic sand. When I was in therapy, I made a stress ball with two balloons and a bunch of flour. It actually lasted  me eight years then exploded in a cloud of flour all over my bedroom floor.

-Experience a sensory deprivation tank.

Try one or two of these to help notice the five senses around you. Pick one and dedicate that day to exploring it. And never take any of them for granted.