Dei'ah veDibur - Information & Insight
  

A Window into the Chareidi World

20 Sivan 5764 - June 9, 2004 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
NEWS

OPINION
& COMMENT

OBSERVATIONS

HOME
& FAMILY

IN-DEPTH
FEATURES

VAAD HORABBONIM HAOLAMI LEINYONEI GIYUR

TOPICS IN THE NEWS

HOMEPAGE

 

Produced and housed by
Shema Yisrael Torah Network
Shema Yisrael Torah Network

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home and Family


Coming to Your Senses
by Rosally Saltsman

I've been breathing in the smells of spring, the jasmine and the roses on the bushes, the cool smell of early morning, the fresh-cut grass and sprinkled lawns. It's so replenishing. I feel ecstatic when I fill myself up with the smell of roses. It's like breathing in joy.

And I thought to myself that I don't focus enough on experiencing the world with all my senses. Most of us are so used to early morning sunshine, birdsong and the smell of challa that we hardly give them much attention. They're nice, we may even notice them, but how often do we really appreciate them? More to the point -- how often do we appreciate our ability to see, smell, hear, touch and taste?

I remember when my son was a baby and I was told to stimulate him with toys that crinkled and jingled, that were soft and colorful -- and the absolute glee on his face when one of his senses was stimulated. The world is so beautiful, so full of pleasure, we can't afford to take it for granted.

Okay, I'll grant that it's difficult to go around like we've just discovered life, but if we take a few minutes spread out over the course of a day to linger over the moment, to breathe in the air, to relish a hug, to savor a cookie, or a carrot, or a peach, to listen to a song or to look at the sky, we would expand ourselves beyond the limitations of our limited perceptions.

We would recognize that the world is a gift and that every day we receive it anew.

 

All material on this site is copyrighted and its use is restricted.
Click here for conditions of use.