It’s All About the Yummy

litebeing, ,

There are many instances in my life where I doubted the point of being here, chained to a body and being at the mercy of unexpected events that challenge its survival. Many thought leaders are now touting the benefits of waking up and staying in human form. So I started to consider some of the perks of 3D material existence. Many metaphysical teachers claim that sensory experiences are unnecessary on the higher planes. Immediately I thought, no need for clothes, jewelry, shoes, food, etc.

So I created a blogging challenge ( a Sense-sational one, you might say), to invite people to really ponder the gifts of living in form. After all, we all know the limitations. Which of the 5 bodily senses are preferred and how do they enhance your life?  This is what I was looking to uncover, in order to create a conversation about incarnation with a certain perspective.

 Here is what I discovered about my preferences and delights:

If I was asked as a child to name my favorite sense, it would have been my sight. I have always been so fond of colors, patterns, and images and could not imagine functioning without use of my outer  eyes or third eye. I am definitely a visual learner and will forget names, but never a face! As my readers know, art is therapy for me and it never lets me down. Like C said in her post, the thought of becoming blind is simply unthinkable. My eyesight has certainly declined with time, but glasses fill the gap . I went from having superior vision ( 20/10) to requiring progressive lenses for myopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Yet I am grateful that these are usually a  minor inconvenience. I am quite fortunate that I do not need to wear glasses all day, but mostly for reading or walking outside where distances are out of focus.

I have experienced many shifts in sensory acuity over the years. As a child and young adult, my sense of smell was impaired. I could not smell odors and fragrances that others took for granted. When someone suggested I smell a  delicious flower, it was both disappointing and frustrating to notice nothing.  Then one day my sense of smell improved dramatically. Not only can I smell a variety of wonderful fragrances, I am very sensitive to strong and unpleasant ones. It is a mixed blessing, as many seem to be.

My ability to hear has always been sub par, but it never prevented me from enjoying music. Music has always been my companion, especially during the darkest times. It is remarkable how the vibrations offer unlimited healing of body and spirit.  But my left ear was always trouble and a few years ago I developed tinnitus. I was tested and have some hearing loss in the right ear. So sometimes I  struggle to understand when  someone is muttering or has a strong accent. But I have adjusted the best I can.

While it is important to have a sense of touch/sensation , it is not my favorite; particularly when confronted with chronic painful health conditions.  However, I do not take anything for granted and value the pleasure that often accompanies the ability to feel bodily sensations. I would give anything to re-live the tactile sensation of a head bump from Dexter, or the calming warmth of Jasmine sleeping on the back of my legs. Hugging my nieces or petting my cat “babies” are treasured moments that make life rich with meaning.

Like the majority of the challenge writers, I enjoy having access to all of my senses. In fact, I am pleased that I often have access to intuition, clairvoyance, clairsentience, and a few others. But the sense that provides me the most joy is the sense of taste, in the form of food. Interestingly enough, my sense of taste was not important as a young child. I was a very picky eater with not much of an appetite. Breakfast before school each day was half a slice of toast. Exciting, right? But as I matured, I began to develop a sophisticated palate and became a foodie in training.

Enjoying food is more than taking pleasure in consumption of fuel for the body; it is a process that integrates all five senses. Sight, sound, smell, touch, along with taste, can play a role in the gustatory experience.

Here are a few examples:

The sizzle of meat and veggies cooking on the grill.

The crunch of popcorn coinciding with the sharpness of salt and the luxurious feel of creamy butter.

The intoxicating smell of freshly brewed coffee.

The deep burgundy hue of a glass of Merlot.

The neon pink cloud of cotton candy.

The brittle caramelized sugar layer on top of creme brulee.

The silky texture of frozen vanilla custard meeting the decisive crunch of the sugar cone.

The bittersweet taste and unctuous smoothness of dark chocolate mousse.

The comforting aroma of mom’s chicken soup simmering on the stove.

The complex, thick, savory – sweetness of chicken mole.

The vivid, maroon goodness of red velvet cake, complemented by sweet, velvety cream cheese icing.

The crackle of peking duck skin marrying the succulent meat and unami hoisin sauce with the crisp bite of scallions and soft mandarin pancakes. Peking duck is a dish that exemplifies holy matrimony of the delicious kind!

One of my dreams is to be the next Anthony Bourdain so I can incorporate my passion for food, travel, and writing together as a food/travel critic. In the meantime, though, I am happy to share with you my thoughts and feelings on all things yummy here at litebeing chronicles. Thank to all who participated in this challenge either directly or vicariously. I appreciate your patience with me in finishing my own offering. Time kinda got away from me.

Speaking of time, let me wish all of my readers the very best of 2018. Please love your Selves first so that more energy is available to you for all you wish to manifest.  The journey really is within, after all.

Here are some blogs that feature my foodie spirit:

https://litebeing.com/2014/09/15/east-africa-in-west-philly-traversing-time-and-space/

https://litebeing.com/2014/08/18/returning-home-part-v-pendle-hill/

https://litebeing.com/2014/07/07/lucky-litebeing/

https://litebeing.com/2014/05/02/a-day-in-the-flow/

https://litebeing.com/2014/04/18/musings-herstory-poland-ukraine-and-ancestral-mysteries/

https://litebeing.com/2013/06/11/scenes-from-an-indian-restaurant-collisions-of-parallel-time/

https://litebeing.com/2013/06/10/111-global-party/

 

images courtesy of wikipedia.org, public domain

Published by litebeing

Seeking magic and awe in ordinary moments

19 Comments

  2. Reblogged this on litebeing chronicles and commented:

    Just literally woke up to the news that my idol Anthony Bourdain killed himself and was found dead in France today. Honestly I do not know how much more emotional upheaval I can bare. I will be reblogging some post that reference him in his honor. I am beyond sad and more that a little angry. I have watched all this TV shows and have dreamed of meeting him and perhaps imbuing some of his energy when I write about food and travel. If you are feeling depressed, please get some help!

    Namaste,
    litebeing

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  3. Happy new year linda… so enjoyed reading about your senses… that if we allow will blossom as our light body absorbs our physical body and we can enjoy embodied ‘enlightenment’… walking the earth and being truly sensational. Your post has shown us all the potential that Earth has to give us all a good start. It’s early here but you have managed to water my tastebuds with your beautiful descriptions… may 2018 be absolutely sensational for you x love barbara x

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  4. I am late in my arrival at your wonderful contribution to the sense challenge Linda.. And loved reading about each and every one.. All of which if we lost just one, would affect us greatly..
    Loved the images of food.. Something I rather over indulged with my self over Christmas, especially cheeses and chocolates, not on the same plate I might add.. LOL.. But a cheese board- grapes and a glass of wine went down well in the evenings..

    Wishing you a Wonderful Happy New Year dear Linda.. may it be blessed with Love, Happiness, Health and Harmony.. ❤ xxx

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    1. Happy you enjoyed the post. Not many have read it yet and my aim was to share my love of food and make the reader possibly hungry as a by product, lol!

      Wishing you a fabulous 2018 as well!

      hugs, Linda

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  9. I won’t do the challenge, as I’m a month or more and a dollar late – -LOL – BUT…yes! I cherish my sight and flounder when I think what use I would be, should I lose it – I personally LOVE comfort food when needs be – especially mac and cheese, thick beef stews, layered lasagna and such, in wintertime – I just spent an entire spring, summer and fall living off proteins (beef jerky, cheese and boiled eggs – cuz, face it – quicker easier meal to gulp down while taking a short break….LOL) – – I, too, have asked for light, gentle or NO hugs, because the pain endured was worse than the gains made – BUT REALLY love waking up at 2am to realize, peace and calm has descended over my body, as the snow falls (finally!) for me to feel up to shoveling – – sigh – I try to be optimistic – I save money by not purchasing a barometer – my body is a walking, living one….

    Smells? Can’t trust ’em, since the stroke – maybe something is rotten, maybe it’s me brain wiring gone amok – but….enjoy the good ones when they show up and work through the over-reaction to not-so-good ones….

    Hearing? I may be in pain, poor sight, poor smell/taste, but I have Spidey Hearing! courtesy, also of stroke/age – rather a pain when a sound emerges THAT I MUST FIND THE ORIGIN of! Only to find out – the neighbor a block away slammed his garage door closed after arriving home….BUT – it also makes me more tolerant of the reactions of those with PTSD – it makes me understanding of those who MUST, simply MUST identify the source and tease out the meaning, of what their senses/brain are telling them, whether I agree with their analyzation of ‘it’ or not – for, why not? I have my thingees, too!

    In closing, my mentor in acupuncture told me that our experience of Living is fed by our senses – no sensory perception? No brain to interpret the external information? We are dead as a door nail and no after life – – Okay – but – – I witness those who have lost so much of such things, in a variety of ways, over the years – and, her statement, and my observations tells me, so far,

    “Yup, the soul exists – cuz you can strip so much away and yet, folks still experience life – even in absence of those things others thing Life cannot be LIVED without – –

    Happy New Year, Linda! Wonderful post! 🙂

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    1. Happy New Year Tamrah Jo! I loved your message. How about copying and pasting it into your blog and making it a post? That way more folks will read your words ( and I can count you in the challenge). I do not know much anymore, but consciousness is elusive and mysterious and existence without consciousness is not existence, lol!

      blessings to you and yours with love, Linda

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