Senses - sensual - sensory

I used to label people who described the delightful aroma of a freshly squeezed orange as slightly off kilter. Get on with the task - no need to smell any roses on the way to accomplishment.
The past month of my life has forced me to slow things down a bit and I have found myself doing some strange things. The other day, I put a plush rug next to my bed, for the sole purpose of being able to pause for a moment when I wake up - to plunge my toes into the softness of velour.
Then, I started noticing scents. My sensory system started taking notice of the smell of the musty pile of leaves next to the back door. I started stopping at all junctures of my week to close my eyes and smell my surroundings. Alas, this led to my experimenting with my pillow. At first, it was a few drops of lavender on the pillowcase, but then it became an opportunity to drink in these smells before sleep. Last night it was lavender and lemon oil.
Perhaps I am a sensory late-bloomer, but my sense awakening is probably more indicative of a person who has been driven to achieve and succeed, to work at full speed and prove...that I can do it? "Type A" has now become a label to attempt to balance with enjoyment of life.
Life has purpose, yes, but life is also meant to be enjoyed. I am grateful for very normal and routine things such as the fan that is in the window and brings in cool air before the heat sets in. There is something completely delightful about this new found sensory awareness. It doesn't even matter to me that people shoot sideways glances at me as I stand still in the parking lot, close my eyes, and pause to drink in the smells and sounds of a surrounding I used to rush through.