We have all heard it said...that when one of the five senses diminishes, those remaining become stronger and more sensitized in order to compensate for the loss. I have discovered another fact about 'senses.' Our senses are symphonic...that is...they complement each other. They are orchestrated to work in concert, and not in conflict. They support and confirm each other.
When fully sighted, and with acute hearing, if I heard a sound that required further confirmation, I simply glanced in the appropriate direction. Upon spying certain visual evidences, my hearing was judged to be correct in its message to my brain.
When eating, I could look at the food on my plate and anticipate the flavor of what I saw. NOW...I
see a blob of light-colored..SOMETHING. I wait until it is in my mouth to discover whether I have chosen rice, mashed potatoes or cottage cheese...(maybe I have scraped a bare segment of my white plate.....resulting in a forkful of nothing).
Aromas can no longer be visually confirmed as to the source of their emanation. Closer nasal inspection is necessary to determine whether it is a rose or some other pleasing scent.
When being approached by another person, verification rarely happens visually. A spoken word sometimes reveals a familiar voice, but other times personal identification such as, "I am..." or "This is..." works best.
I am not sure my other senses have picked up the slack. It is, however, pointed out to me daily, hourly...even moment to moment how dedicated and singularly important the senses are. At the same time, I see their intricate relation to each other, and the Celestial Orchestration that makes them collectively essential for the balance we desire.
It is not always catastrophic to experience a diminishing of senses. It IS always a nuisance...and usually an imnconvenience...but LIFE goes on! (The World did NOT grind to a halt when I became too visually impaired to drive.)
Perhaps in the marvelous design of body and spirit, there is ANOTHER sense that grows stronger.....a SIXTH sense. That is the concept of resolve, will and flexibility that allows a physical loss to be overcome.....while the SPIRIT continues to thrive.
It is commonly called "attitude"...and it works wonders! It can make a darkened world BE bright....a silent world amazingly alive with joyous sounds...and an odorless, tasteless day filled with anticipation and Thanksgiving. It can touch us in the deepest recesses of our soul. It can cause us to MAXIMIZE that which remains intact....and minimize the impact of what has been lost.
ATTITUDE! Adjust it! Correct it! Build on it! A good attitude allows....encourages....DEMANDS that we continue to live life....as a WHOLE person!
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