Why Pleasure Matters in Times of Darkness

Choosing to feel alive, even when everything feels uncertain.

The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons.

In 1939, shortly after the outbreak of World War II, writer C.S. Lewis delivered a sermon titled “Learning in War-Time” at the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Oxford, England. He began with a provocative yet poignant question:

How can you be so frivolous and selfish as to think about anything but the war?

He was addressing the concern that most students listening must have felt at that moment: what’s the point of pursuing learning, art, or ordinary life, for that matter, during a time of such crisis?

As an empath, that’s exactly how I’m feeling right now: what’s the point of pursuing anything of joy when the world is falling apart?

I have incredible guilt writing about seemingly “frivolous” topics like our sense of smell, or having podcast conversations about aromatic pursuits - after all, look at what’s happening in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. Not to mention the crisis we’re facing here in the U.S. with the complete dismantling of our democracy.

Well, the point C.S. Lewis makes is a great reminder: life has never truly been “normal.” We only live under the illusion of normalcy. If we wait for the perfect moment to create, to explore, or simply to savor life’s small pleasures, it will never arrive.

The war creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has always been lived on the edge of a precipice. Human culture has always had to exist under the shadow of something infinitely more important than itself.
~ from C.S. Lewis’ sermon “Learning in War-Time”

His point being that war is a finite object, and so it can never truly occupy the full attention of a human soul. He argues that pursuing beauty, knowledge and creation, even in wartime, isn’t frivolous. It’s what makes life meaningful.

That stuck with me and has allowed me to take in the simple pleasures in life more freely - even amid everything happening. Now I’ll pause to smell my fingers after peeling an orange, inhale the bloom of spices in oil as I prepare a meal, and really notice how a blend of essential oils changes as I make a perfume to lift my spirits.

At first glance, these moments might seem trivial in a world that demands urgency, alertness, and action. But really they’re a reminder that life is still rich with texture, and that joy and pleasure are present all around us, even amid turmoil.

They call me “the smell lady.”

Sensory engagement - the act of noticing, tasting, smelling, and even creating - is really a quiet form of defiance. When I crush fresh rosemary between my fingers, or sniff a blooming flower, I’m affirming that the world is still alive with gifts, even amid fear and uncertainty. It’s precisely in these moments that we’re fully awake, fully human, and fully present.

A paella I made recently.

Cooking, too, has become a form of meditation for me. Chopping herbs, simmering rice, tasting and adjusting as needed. It reminds me that care and attention aren’t luxuries but rather essentials. Every aroma and flavor quietly hints that life is still worth tuning into - and enjoying!

For me smell, the most intimate of our senses, is made for dark times. It wakes something deep inside of us, reminds us we’re alive, and keeps us grounded in the present moment.

When we find pleasure in smelling, we’re not ignoring the darkness; it’s just helping us move through it. And it helps remind us that some things do stay the same, even when the world feels uncertain.

So, I invite you to pause to smell a beautiful rose, lift your nose and inhale the autumn air, make a flavorful meal for yourself or loved ones, and engage in creation. Because it’s in these small acts that we actually live life instead of merely existing.

And since we’re getting closer to the holidays, I’ve got the perfect conversation to help you start putting these ideas into practice.

This week on my podcast An Aromatic Life:

In this episode, I sit down with Jeffrey Paul Ames, aka The Aromatic Gourmet, to explore the deep connection between fragrance, flavor, and beauty. Jeffrey shares how scent has guided his life, from his Italian family’s aromatic kitchen to teaching sensory classes at the Institute for Art and Olfaction.

You’ll hear how he merges gastronomy and perfumery, creating “edible perfumes” through salts, syrups, and spices, and how sensory awareness can bring color, joy, and mindfulness back into our daily lives. Jeffrey also offers simple ways to make your meals, or any moment, more aromatic, which is perfect as we head into the holidays.

If you’ve ever wanted to cook like a perfumer, or use scent to anchor memories, this episode is a feast for your senses.

You can hear this conversation, and many more, on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.