In Gretchen Rubin’s latest book, The Five Senses, she talks about putting together a five senses portrait of various things.

Example, as we were driving home on 2 January this year from our week-long holiday in Clarens, I did the five senses exercise with my family.

What are the things that remind us of the holiday in terms of sight, sound, taste, touch and feel?

I wish I’d recorded it because, of course, at the time I thought I’d definitely remember it and then I didn’t.

(This is now my mental note to do the same when we go to Ballito in July)

Meanwhile, I think this is such a great way to remember the other things about an experience and to force yourself to extend your memories beyond what you usually remember.

The other Saturday at Zumba, I thought that I should do a five senses portrait, so here we go:

Sight

1. My drive to Zumba is beautiful in all seasons – summer, autumn and winter.
2. Couples walking their dogs, parents pushing babies in their prams, some runners.
3. The light across the hardwood floors in the studio
4. Colours of the workout gear and the shoes
5. Ladies – smiling, confused, impassive, or in their own worlds
6. Mirrors – one makes me look thinner than I am
7. Instructor – all eyes are on her

Hearing

1. The rhythms of the songs
2. The screech of shoes on the floors
3. Laughter (usually when we forget things)
4. Clanging of the barbells on the machines just outside the door
5. “Hey what’s going on” – the last song of Wednesday night Zumba (I LOVE IT)

Smell

1. Saltiness of sweat
2. Sometimes body odour (thankfully this is rare)
3. Rubber (from the mats outside)

Taste

1. Ice-cold water during class
2. Metal taste from my water bottle
3. Sometimes salt
4. Tart taste of a Granny Smith apple as I leave class

Touch

1. Cold from the aircon (delicious in summer)
2. Warmth of my polar fleece before I’m warmed up
3. Feel of the beats reverbing off the floor and walls
4. Sweat on my chest
5. Satisfied tiredness of sore muscles during stretch time

What do you want to do a five senses portrait of? It definitely makes you pay more attention to your life when you think through each aspect.