Patty Mayeux Blog

I’ve been sharpening my sensory muscles to seek joy and beauty. Despite the worrisome, bothersome, and downright scary state of our current world, gladness peeks through, if we pay attention. Try this: look at your world right now, not focusing on anything. So many things beg for your eye’s gaze. Don’t think, don’t look, just stare into the space. Most likely some one thing will gain your attention. What images, sounds, noises, smells, and pleas tugged at you in the last hour? Which cried the loudest, or was most persistent? Look again, now focusing on something beautiful, inspiring, or funny. This exercise won’t work with social media playing in the foreground, or anywhere. You don’t need someone else’s idea of entertainment to numb your senses. Far better to create your own inspiring world. Use your five senses to grasp the sensory information lurking behind the hard-edged and hard-wired messages of technology beeping and flashing. I’ve been surprised and gladdened by the blue of the sky, the smell of pine garland, the conversational chirping of birds, the feel of fuzzy slippers, and so many holiday tastes. Everywhere, everywhere there is happiness to be found. Smile when it breaks through and look for more.