Saturday was the annual Armenian food festival in San Francisco. It has become our yearly tradition, an opportunity to celebrate and savor my cultural background. 

From the moment I got out of the car, I felt my emotions stirred up. I’m not sure how to describe it. I’ve really been in my feelings lately, with all of the heaviness in the world, so I guess I’d say I was feeling very sensitive.  I felt the tears, even though they didn’t quite make their way to my eyes. 

This isn’t a somber tale, though. On the contrary, it’s a reminder of how we can be soothed in the, seemingly, most ordinary ways. Our senses are powerful.

As we made our way up the sidewalk, the couple walking behind us was speaking in Armenian. Even though I wasn’t listening to what they were saying, the SOUND was soothing. The familiar tone and rhythm of language that evoked memories of my parents and extended family conversing, sharing thoughts, feelings and experiences.

And then there was the SOUND of the music…reminiscent of events we attended and, even, the Armenian Radio Hour my father would listen to every Sunday morning, while sitting at our dining room table, eating his breakfast and reading the newspaper. Music that was both entertaining and soulful, a reminder of our culture’s rich heritage…

As I looked around the festival grounds, the SIGHT of the people milling around was like seeing myself, my family, my ancestral background…so very comforting. Similar facial features, hair, eye color…a belonging of sorts.

It was lunchtime when we arrived and, if you know you know,  Armenian food festivals shine in the church auditorium. The SMELL and TASTE of shish kebab and rice pilaf – amazing – like being home – the rich flavors and scents of long ago family meals. Something so ordinary (and taken for granted) as a child and now so special….

Even the feel of holding the skewer (Shish) and sliding the pieces of meat (Kebab) down to the plate was so familiar. The power of TOUCH…

Something deep in my memory and my heart stirred…I wanted to cry…but not sad tears. How would I describe the experience? More of an image than a word – a warm blanket. Like being enveloped by something so very soothing…at a time when I really needed it.

The capacity to be soothed, through our senses, exists for all of us. We’re wired for it. Sometimes, we may be more sensitive with one sense than another. We’re all different. I encourage you to experiment and find what moves you. A familiar smell, a sight or a sound…the feel of something or a taste that evokes well being. It’s an opportunity to get to know ourselves better. To build a toolkit that we can access when needed…

Can you remember an occasion in which you were transported to another time or place when one or more of your senses was activated?