18 Comments
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minnie's avatar

I've also never had a sense of smell, but growing up no one would believe me. To this day, I still have never seen a doctor for it, both because I no longer feel any urgency and because I don't expect it to be addressed other than a confirmation that I can't smell, based on the lack of information there is about it. My understanding of my anosmia is only filtered through basic medical websites like Mayo Clinic because I've never met anyone who has it or has heard of it before. So it means a lot to me to find an essay like this. Thanks for sharing :-)

areeba's avatar

this is such a beautiful read. the articles stitched with personal life experiences. Just reminds me how little things matters in life and I should take everything seriously. Thank you for sharing your heart here 💕

Ellen Eve Sanderson's avatar

I had to read this twice what an amazing essay!!! The way olfaction interacts with perception and desire is so interesting. I grew up in a little coastal town where it never rains and only realised that’s probably the reason my perfume is called “Forrest rain” while I read. Thank you so much for your insight!

Solitary Daughter's avatar

wow, thank you so much for sharing that 🥲🫶🏼

Annexes's avatar

I always had a very poor sense of smell, like my mother. I can smell, for sure, but only in a more effortful way than most others, I would say. Reading your experiences it suddenly dawned on me that maybe this is why I never feel like any place is 'home'. I have had the experience of smelling something that reminded me of my childhood in some seemingly random way, but I never had strong emotions tied to a place like that. Maybe I could just never smell my 'home'?

Apart from that, really amazing post!

Solitary Daughter's avatar

wow, thank you so much for reading and sharing ❤️

Cat Barlowe's avatar

This one gave me chills!!

Amani Hope's avatar

Raquel absolutely stunning essay. There’s so much I want to say but I’m speechless ❣️

Solitary Daughter's avatar

ahh thank you Amani ❤️

Izzy | The Sunday Reads's avatar

Raquel this is a stunning piece of work. Truly beautiful how you’ve weaved personal experience with articles/science. I had to reread that ending! Also, I hope writing this helped you feel just a bit better. My dad is an ENT and I’m thinking of sharing this with him!

Solitary Daughter's avatar

oh thank you so much for your kind words ❤️❤️❤️

Martha Adams's avatar

This was so beautiful! The ending was perfect - in awe of how you wrote this, weaving together so many threads of emotion, history and the landscape of health 🩷

Emily Safron's avatar

Thank you for sharing this, Raquel. My father struggles with tinnitus, so it was comforting to read a POV of someone's experience of a loved one with a relatable diagnosis.

Solitary Daughter's avatar

ahh thank you so much for reading ❤️

Cydney Hayes's avatar

wow the ending !! Raquel this was so good