Last Saturday's outdoor class gave me opportunities to notice what degree of awareness was available. I learned many times that I was choosing to ignore information available to me from my senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.

I am still sorting this out. I am not used to even trying to be fully aware. I am a bit intimidated.

At the same time, I am intrigued at what is available and I did have some unusual and compelling experiences. Trying to stretch my willingness to sense distant sounds, to carefully notice and describe unfamiliar – and even familiar - smells and tastes, to navigate relying on senses other than sight, etcetera, were all strangely exciting and liberating. Maybe the word empowering fits.

When I re-opened my eyes after a considerable period of voluntarily not relying on sight, for example, colors and shapes rushed in with a vividness and pleasure I do not usually experience. I had a powerful sense that the world is a beautiful place and that I enjoy being here.

I also experienced how I shut so much out and how often I focus with tunnel “vision” on tasks and thoughts. That realization was a bit disturbing.