“Gratitude is to fill our thoughts with pleasing thoughts, to fill our heart with love for the beautiful things in our lives, to focus our eyes to see the beauty around us and the source of all that beauty.” Laura Lane from ‘I Touch the Heavens’
This week I saw a video on Tiktok. It was part of a BBC documentary about autism and Dr Luke Beardon was interviewing a man named Chris about his experience with sensory overload in everyday situations.
What I found completely fascinating was how Chris explained that a crowded market with loud noises, strong smells and a huge amount of visual stimuli and many people milling about was obvious something he tried to avoid because it was too overwhelming but his solution wasn’t to simply never leave the house.
Instead, he sought out sensory experiences that brought him joy such a walk out in nature. A walk out in nature has many competing stimuli but these are ones that bring him comfort and joy: the bright sun, noises of the birds and animals, strong smells, a huge amount of things to see everywhere, the wind and other elements of weather.
Other examples of sensory joy were a soft blanket, petting a cat or dog, or smelling a favourite sent. Chris expressed how many individuals with autism recognize that they experience the world differently then those of us whose brains can filter out stimuli, that was we are missing out on is the amount of joy that can be had from a heightened awareness of the sensory world around us. The autistic brain forces them to see what most of us ignore and no longer notice anymore.
I made me realize how much sensory joy I am missing out on in my life right now. If all I am seeing and experiencing is home and work day after day. Siting in front of a laptop all day then coming home grabbing a quick bite to eat then crashing on the couch in front of the TV before stumbling into bed.
What I am missing out on is a huge amount of sensory joy. I could be enjoying the sounds of the birds outside – I love hearing the chickadees in my yard.
I could be noticing the chipmunks running around and hear the squirrels chattering away in the trees.
I could be experiencing the feel of the cool wind on my face and the sound of the breeze in the trees or waves crashing on the shore at the lakefront beach.
I could be feeling the sun warming my body.
I could be enjoying good foods that have wonderful textures, tastes and smells.
I could be noticing the feel of water running over my hands as a wash. I could be noticing the smell of the almond soap.
I could be listening to music that makes me want to move and sway to it or uplifts my soul.
What I had noticed lately was that I was feeing bored, lethargic and tired. I was struggling to write in my journal, struggling to find things to be happy about, to be grateful for. No wonder. I wasn’t allowing myself the opportunity to experience anything that could bring pleasure to my life, to be grateful for, that could bring me joy.
So many things in life are about perspective. There are an infinite number of incredible experiences out there but the key is: are we allowing ourselves to experience them or have we filtered them all out?
This was a big wake up call for me. I had forgotten how much I was missing out on and the sad part is it never went anywhere. It was always here for me to enjoy.
All of the things that bring us joy, the things that we are most grateful for, are right here. We just have to allow ourselves the time and opportunity to focus on experiencing them everyday.
What are you missing out on that is right there at your fingertips everyday that you could be enjoying but you had forgotten about? What do you need to be more grateful for? What would bring you more joy?
Will you take time to stop and smell the roses?
“Gratitude leads us to joy.”
Laura Lane from ‘I Touch the Heavens’