A sensual start to the week

Something to see, something to hear, something to taste, something to touch, something to smell.

My daughter asked me a lovely question, recently. She said: what are your favourite things for each of the senses?

I enjoyed answering her question, and hearing her answers, and I thought I’d share an idea for engaging each of the senses, and invite you to think about this question, too.

Something to see

Wherever I am, I search for the sky. I watch the sun rise and the sun set, and observe the shapes of the clouds. I love how the sky becomes illuminated before a rainstorm.

Studying the sky has been coined ‘skychology’ by psychologist and wellbeing researcher Paul Conway, and has been proven to have benefits for our mental health.

Something to hear

I truly enjoy the patter of rain on my conservatory roof. It’s like ballerina’s tiptoes - but amplified. When I really want to listen, though, music always wins.

This is perhaps the most beautiful piece of music I’ve ever heard, by Lubiana. I wrote that, under the video, and it’s the only comment I’ve ever written that has gone viral.

Something to taste

Ripe summer fruits with a dollop of clotted cream. A dripping peach; the reddest strawberries; crunchy blueberries (no squishy ones, thanks), the sweetest raspberries.

Something to touch

Naked skin. My own smooth, newly-shaven legs. My children’s warm clammy hands in mine. My husband. A friend’s sun-warmed shoulders when we hug.

Something to smell

It’s got be the roses, hasn’t it? My mum has always said that yellow roses smell the best. She might be right. So, when I see one, I take a moment to lean down and check.

But I’m smelling these raspberry ripple/tropical petal roses (I need to check what they are) every morning, on the school drop, and it is like stepping into olfactory heaven.

Over to you:

• What are your favourite things for each of the senses?

Annie x