I love the smell of lilacs. When I was a kid, we had a whole row of the light lavender-colored bushes growing in the backyard. I used to burrow in underneath the heart-shaped leaves and sit with my back against the wooden fence, reading a mystery novel and immersing myself in the fragrance.
In high school I took trash bags full of lilacs and filled my friends’ lockers with them. I always left a note signed by The Mysterious Lilac Lady of Meadowdale High. To this day, few know the true identity of “The MLL of MHS.”
Weeks before my offer on the house I now live in was accepted, I planted a small lilac bush next to the front door. It’s much taller than the roof now. May weather permitting, I like to sit on the porch and inhale their fragrance, allowing myself to be overcome by the plethora of memories accompanying the smell.
“They say” the olfactory sense is the sense our memories are most closely linked to. That may or may not be true, but for me, one whiff of the delicate blossoms and I’m suddenly transported to one of several dozen springtime experiences.
A few days ago, during my quiet time of meditation, I made it a priority to stop and smell the flowers. I invite you now to take some time out to surround yourself with your own special memories. Breathe them all in and hang on tight.
