The crisp air, the cool breeze blowing through the trees and the frosty dew of morning all are signals that autumn has finally arrived. My sensory attention rose when the leaves almost turned color overnight and the humidity of late summer shifted to the briskness of October. Yet I still made the mistake of not taking a coat and was caught off guard. If only I had paid attention a bit more, I could have saved myself some chilly moments.
Sensory Attention
Paying attention to our senses is the first stage of remembering anything. Our five senses are the first connection and initial input of any memory. In these split seconds, we gather information to make decisions, including what we’ll remember about any given moment. The simple act of paying attention to sensory input helps us in a myriad of ways. Take my chilly day for example…
While preoccupied with numerous things, I was surprised to notice all the leaves had turned. I also sensed it was cooler, yet didn’t notice just how much. Because of this, I didn’t remember to wear a coat the next time I ventured outside. Gone for most of the day, each time I went outside the chilly breeze reminded me of just how cold the weather (and I) were. I didn’t pay enough sensory attention.
What have you noticed (or not noticed) lately? Is it the smell of burning leaves or the distinct whiff of the furnace kicking in? How about feeling the warmth from the oven or fireplace or the chilly air on a morning walk? Maybe it’s the taste of comforting soups, stews, and pumpkin beverages we haven’t had in months? Noticing these things gives us a type of placeholder to our days, a touchstone to point us back to this moment in time and help us remember.
We simply need to pay more sensory attention to all that’s around us. Clearly, I noticed the cooler weather, yet I didn’t allow this knowledge to really impact my decision to grab a coat on my way out the other day. A split second of increased attention is all it would have taken and I would’ve been much warmer.
Let’s lift our eyes, open our ears, take a whiff, savor each bite, and feel every breeze. Let’s truly experience all our senses have to offer! It will create touchstone moments, help us make better decisions, and most importantly, allow us to be present in our lives in a more meaningful way. It doesn’t take more than a split second, but the memory value of those moments is truly priceless.