Today is day 10 of my Gratitude Challenge and the assignment is to pick one of my five senses to focus on and note the many gifts that come to me through that portal.

Just contemplating this has me realizing how much information from my senses I disregard or take for granted. As I sit here at my desk, there is so much to see, hear, touch, and even taste and smell.

I probably receive the most information from sight. Without even turning my head there is a rich array of things to see.

There is the view outside my window—mountains, and bare and green trees that have the backdrop of a beautiful pale blue sky with just a few light clouds. There is the dull gray street in front of our house and the dry, brown leaves that cover the roadside. There are tan and rust-colored grasses and green bushes in the field across the street. I can see there is a slight breeze gently moving branches. I can also see the green metal porch railing and a car that is passing by. Out of the corner of my eye I can see a planter with some still-green petunias.

On the windows are white sheer curtains and white window shades pulled half-way down. A glass orange and pink starfish hangs from the center of the white metal curtain rod. A tin angel with a trumpet is on the white wall above the windows—a gift from my Mother that was brought from Haiti during one of her mission trips. Flanking the windows are two brown cork bulletin boards with notes pinned to it, a running calendar, paint chips of colors I’ve contemplated painting the office, and the ticket from our trip to Universal Studios last year that was the best vacation ever! There’s a picture of my brother and his family, and a dolphin ornament.

Closer to me, I can see my computer screen and the words that I am writing. I can see my laptop, phone, and headset. There is a glass of water, a brown stone coaster, and a pink and white ceramic cup that I know has coffee in it, even though I can’t see it. There is a box of Kleenex covered in pink flowers, a raw slice of purple amethyst, and a green ceramic turtle that my sister-in-law brought me from Mexico. There’s a “worry stone” made out of clay that has the word “gratitude” stamped on it that is glazed in purple. There is a white bottle of hand lotion with purple writing, my journal, a scattering of papers, lip balm, a note pad, and purple and pink pens. There is my iPad keyboard, brightly colored folders, and copies of the magazine I write. And there is the keyboard I am typing on and the desk itself.

Underneath the desk is a white trash can, a recycle bin, and my very fluffy silver and black Keeshond dog, Buffy, asleep on the hardwood floor.

All of that is right in front of me. It’s what I see every day, but how often do I stop and really see it, and appreciate the fact that I can see?

The more present you can be, the fuller and richer your life. What do you sense today that adds texture and interest to your life?

Together we can do it!