The Power of Smell

Whenever the seasons change, I am overwhelmed with a sense of nostalgia. Fall brings about memories of Halloweens past, warm cider and being wrapped up in a blanket on my couch while a good movie is playing on TV. Today, I am reminded of a Halloween when I was around 11. A trick or treater knocked on the door and I peeped in the eyehole and saw that he was dressed as a vampire. I don't know why this sticks out to me with today's smell in the air but it does. I can see his smiling face very clearly along with the white made up face and dark circled eyes he must have done himself. I can't remember what candy my Mom and I gave him but I am determined to try and find that piece of memory in my mind today.
I find this particularly useful when trying to retrain our brains and remember things we have problems recalling. What do you associate crisp air with? A memory of when you were a child? A memory of last year? How does this play into our recovery? The power of smell is one of the ways we can heal ourselves. We don't need pills or therapy for this. All we need to do is retreat within ourselves and try to use the power of smell and recall to beam ourselves back. Like anything, this can be frustrating but at least if we can't remember, we can be comforted by a warm smell and remember next year this time that this is what we were doing.
Does today's smell unlock something for you?