Mostly I'm aware of sights and sounds, using the senses of vision and hearing. Today, walking in the early coolness of the morning, my skin tingled with the touch of the breeze and the sensation of leaves' pointy edges scratching my skin as I brushed past tropical foliage spilling over from yards to sidewalks. The occasional cobweb strung across my path made me thankful I wear glasses.

Today it was so still, though, what got my attention were the odors. My olfactory nerve was activated by perfume seeping from bathroom windows and by the stench left behind as cars were started up, blowing out the corruption lurking in engine and exhaust system into the clear morning air. My walk coincides with the start of the commute for a lot of people. Used to be me.

Now I'm eating my breakfast--a hunk of cheese, small handful of nuts, a few figs. The cheese is sharp with added chipotle, making a nice contrast to the bland nuts. The sweetness of the figs is almost like dessert.

Being fully present to life means being alert in all the senses.