Olfactory illusions: Real or imagined?

Let me preface this by saying I have been known to have a premonition of a future event, but they have, up to this point, always been visual. This morning, however, I experienced something new, or at least, new to me. I’ve heard of people being able to smell certain things from which they deduce something or other, but have never experienced such a thing myself. Usually, if I smell something, it’s source can be easily identified. Today, however, is a completely different kettle of fish.

Around 10:00AM, I started smelling a pleasant scent which seemed remotely familiar. I couldn’t place it, and there was no reason for it to be in my house, so I sat very still trying, first, to identify the scent, and second, where it might be coming from. As I continued to worry this scent like a dog would a tasty bone, my heart started to pound as if the scent elicited an emotional response from me. Yet, still, I can neither identify scent nor source.

I posed the question to my Facebook friends and got some interesting responses. Here are a couple of them:

Yes. I have. There are times when I can smell the spaghetti and green beans we had in Kindergarten. I can smell the pineapples from the box the man across the street would bring home from Dole when we lived in Hawaii….YES….many, many times.

Yes. Scents are often closely linked with memory. A certain scent can trigger memory, and memory can trigger the impression of the scent. Occasionally a scent/memory connection can cause other types of hallucinations. The memory of a train triggered by scent of coal can trigger your brain to create the illusion of a train whistle as an example.

Have you noticed that when you notice something particularly interesting, it starts coming up in various parts of your life?

I was watching an episode of “Scorpion” last night in which they were trying to trigger someone’s memory. Toby, the behaviorist, had the guy smell something applicable to the memory they were seeking. He stated that scent is a very powerful memory trigger. In my case, however, not only could I not place the scent, but it didn’t trigger any memories, at least on a conscious level. I can’t even tell for sure if I was feeling anxious or excited!

Fortunately, I’ve convinced myself to let it go for now. If it’s something I really need to know, it will come to me in some other way, or the Universe will just keep slapping me until I pay attention. Either way, I’ll have it when I need it.

For now, I have a book to critique and more to come. Just another step in my quest to become a published author. I love how the community of writers really is a community. Many really do want to help each other (though, like anything else, there are some who simply want to promote their own work while offering nothing in return. Different strokes for different folks). I prefer to be in the group which helps first, though it doesn’t always work out that way. I certainly wouldn’t feel right about asking someone to critique my 98,000 word novel if I wasn’t willing and able to do the same for them. I also worry about a writer who claims that they don’t read any more. Their vision is going to be extremely limited, but then, that might be exactly what they want.

Stay tuned as I begin my new journey into the world of critiques and critiquing.

My gratitudes tonight are:
1. I am grateful for new visions and expanding opportunities.
2. I am grateful for other authors. They give me something to strive for and someone to learn from.
3. I am grateful for my writing. If something frustrates or confuses me, I simply need to write about it and eventually, it will all sort out.
4. I am grateful for two ladies who are taking on my first serious effort.
5. I am grateful for abundance: love, happiness, joy, writing, inspiration, assistance, cooperation, appreciation, health, peace, harmony and prosperity.

Blessed Be

And now for some shameless self-promotion:
I’d love it if you’d visit my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SheriLevensteinConawayAuthor?ref=aymt_homepage_panel. I’ve created this page as a means of positive affirmation and would be very grateful if you’d “like” it or leave a comment! Thank you!