Come to your senses

 When we were younger, most of us were taught we have five senses—taste, touch, smell, sight, and sound. But take a closer look. There are so many others.

 

For example, wonder. I used to credit my parents for giving me a sense of wonder, but I’ve come to realize that no one gives us a sense of wonder. We’re all born with it. What my parents did was nurture it in me. And so did many others, including aunts, uncles, teachers, and friends.

          

Then there’s our sense of humor. Comedian Bill Kelly credits God with including humor as part of his creation. “After God created the world, He made man and woman. Then, to keep the whole thing from collapsing, He invented humor.”

          

Our sense of humor is what keeps us from taking life too seriously. It also is something that keeps us healthy. Laughter has often been referred to as inner jogging or the best medicine.

 

There’s also common sense. That’s the sense that keeps us grounded and prevents us from getting out of control. William James says, “Common sense and a sense of humor are the same things, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.”

          

There are all sorts of other senses: a sense of pride, a sense of responsibility, fashion sense, money sense, a sense of rhythm. . .the list is as diverse as humanity.

 

What do you deem your most valuable senses other than the original five? Are there some you would like to nurture or cultivate more fully? Are there some that you depend on too much to help you get through rather than thrive?

 

Each of us has our own combination of senses that we use to make sense of our lives and the world around us. So this week, why not try coming to your senses?