Did you know that your sense of smell can trigger memories and emotions? It’s true. Your nose can take you back in time quicker than any of your other senses.
I’m not sure if we can fine tune that enough to help you find your keys. And it probably can’t compete with Apple’s find my iphone app. But, it brings some interesting things to mind, doesn’t it?
Think about it.
Missing a loved one who has passed on? Find a bottle of their favorite cologne, close your eyes, and memories of them will flood your mind.
When my god father, Harold, moved on to heaven, his daughter, Cindy, sent me the quilt that had lived on my bed. Seeing that blanket brought back fond memories of childhood summer’s in Ohio. I grabbed the blanket from the box and hugged it. The even bigger surprise? The smell of that blanket, as I hugged it, took me to emotions I’d only experienced in their presence — with two of the people who loved me most — two people I can’t see again on this side of heaven. It was like being there with them again.
For months, I refused to wash that blanket. I knew once it was washed, that smell would be forever gone and those feelings gone with it.
Harold taught me about the source of another of my favorite smells. . . STEAK!
Oh my. I love a good steak.
I remember visiting Ponderosa steak house with Deda and Harold when I was six years old. This was in the days when Ponderosa was a really big deal. No salad bar. You would pick out your steak and then wait in line watching them cook it. Then they would hand you a plate with your steak on it and you’d move down the line, choose your sides, and continue on to your drink and the cash register. Then, someone would find you a seat. And the place was packed!
That is the day I got my OWN steak! My green eyes widened as I breathed in the aroma of that juicy t-bone.
Can you imagine?? My own steak. This was a proud moment indeed.
Patiently, he taught me how to hold the fork and steak knife. When I had a strong grasp on that, we moved on to cutting the steak.
“Only cut enough for a bite or two, no more.” Harold directed. “Keeps your steak juicy that way.”
Oh my goodness, I am cutting my own steak!
“I want A1 sauce,” I said
“No you don’t,” he answered.
My lower lip pouted out a little. “Why not?”
I had noticed EVERYONE around us using this magical sauce. It must be good.
He leaned over and whispered in my ear, “When you have a good steak, you don’t need to put any sauce on it. That stuff is for the cheaper steaks.”
Have you noticed that a lot of us look around at what everyone else is doing and decide that must be the very best, because everyone is doing it?
I’ve seen a lot of that in business.
We look around and see all of our friends making videos and think, “I’ve got to do that too!”
Everyone has a Facebook page, “I want one too!”
Our competitors are on 16 social networks, so we’ve got to be on 16 too.
Yet, so many of us are frustrated with chasing the ever moving cheese around the game board of life.
I’ve been guilty of the same. But, I’ve noticed that the people who really make an impact, the real world changers, they are always looking for the next new thing, but they aren’t concerned about finding that new thing by following everyone else.
No — they are looking to CREATE the next new thing.
There are creative powers in you.
It’s time to tap into them and allow yourself to be that unique, world-changing power force that you were created to be!
No more chasing what everyone else is doing. Listen to that still, small voice inside and follow that instead.
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