Whether you’re 2 or 92, there is something so soothing about the smell of fresh baking… and the feeling that seeps into our bodies and envelops us. For me, it’s pure happiness and contentment. Nothing will probably ever equal the feeling I have when I think back on time spent in my grandmothers kitchens. So many memories were made in those rooms — the kitchen — the heart of the home.
Aroma and food often evoke happy memories. They can be seasonal, weather or tradition based. With the Winter season coming to a close and the welcoming signs of Spring around us, temperatures tend to fluctuate and we find ourselves baking on chilly afternoons and evenings.
As I get older, I see the therapeutic benefits in this but recognize on a larger scale that it may be three-fold in purpose and design:
- The warmth from the oven warms a chilly home
- The fresh baked goods nurture our desire for homemade nourishment
- The memories brought back while baking, or the new memories made as people are drawn towards the source of the aroma and sit together to enjoy it, are forever ingrained for future recall and enjoyment.
Take a moment to reflect
Was there a special dinner, dessert or baked good that you enjoyed? One that you’ve perhaps forgotten about until now…
Perhaps a memory that is evoked when you walk into a particular home or place, and as you open the door, you smell the aroma and a warm happiness pours through you and you feel a smile cross your face in anticipation.
I hope you have experienced what I’m referring to. It’s simply an amazing feeling. Happiness, anticipation and gratefulness … all centered around our sense of smell, and attached to memory.
I hope you as you read this, you will embrace the moments that come to you as you reflect upon similar memories of your own.
I’m a proud mom, a friend to many, and have a profound belief in human kindness.
My goal to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life includes my love to write about things that resonate with me. My gift to you is sharing my perspective on living a happy life.
xx
