MY ANOSMATIC LIFE

Life has been interesting. This country and world has been far more interesting, and this year is already flying by. I can’t believe we’re already in mid-April. It’s been a little over a year since I got my sense of smell back. Recently, I logged into my Canva account and stumbled upon this Affirmations: Smell Reminders image that I created over two years ago but never shared it. I have no clue why and definitely think I just forgot about it. With so much happening over the past year up until now, this image speaks volumes for my journey to getting my sense of smell back. It’s a reminder of the importance of affirmations, turning negative thoughts into positive ones, and that anything is possible.

During this past holiday season while shopping for dish ingredients, I stumbled upon a shelf full of soap. It felt like a new discovery. I could not help but stop because the smell of the soaps was so strong and irresistible. I stood at this shelf of soap for awhile just sniffing various ones and of course purchased some even though I don’t really use bar soap much. Some of the scents felt new to me. Anytime I get a whiff of something that smells heavenly like the bars of soap it brightens my day and is a reminder of the power of the sense of smell, the joy it can bring, and how fascinating it is.

Recently, I passed a store in NY that I actually never heard of called Aesop. It’s kind of an expensive store (from a person who loves a good deal and free is always for me) but had some reasonable items. I just happened to be walking down the street in Manhattan not even paying attention to the store until an Aesop employee lit some incense outside the store that I swear made me immediately go straight inside and ask about the type of scent (some lady walking behind me had the exact same sentiment and asked the employee outside). The incense was called “Eidesis” and I was ready to purchase some incense sticks but they were out of stock (even online). Then of course I had a smell fest and the Aesop employee kept giving me all types of good stuff to smell. I was in smell heaven and determined to not leave without something (that I didn’t need) and the Aesop employee was trying to help me out. I was shown a high-priced bottle version of the “Eidesis” incense that I smelled outside that got left in the store but I did get the reasonably priced miniature vial version in a “discovery-sized” fragrance set. I also left the store with Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm and with gratitude that I was able to experience that store full of amazing smells. It is just the minor things that make me so appreciative of having this chance to smell again.

I am so grateful for this journey of discovering and rediscovering smells. I am grateful for all my friends, family members, supporters, anosmia community and advocates. I am so grateful to those who have given me grace and not taken it personal when I may have told them they stink, something stinks, on top of my sometimes (over)dramatic expressions. Having experienced 17 years without a sense of smell unless I was on steroids and living with chronic rhinitis is something I am still processing. For my smell to come back last year with one biweekly shot Dupixent has been life-changing for me. It’s brought more positivity in my life. For that, I am beyond thankful for how far I have come and trying to stay hopeful. I can smell. I am smelling again. Even though I can smell now, I am still committed to sharing my experience and raising anosmia awareness.