I write this with a sense of relief.

We humans experience many emotions. It is something that binds all of us together. But how often do we call out the emotion?

Think to when you last cried, and why you cried. When was the last time you showed joy? Why did you feel so darn good? If you have suffered a loss lately, think on it. It’s all right and healing to grieve because it shows you loved someone.

Now, let’s talk about that emotion of relief.

Recently and after reading my column, someone asked me how much wine I drink everyday. I explained that my wine imbibing is about a glass and a half per day. That amounts to around eight ounces of wine. No, I don’t overdo it! I find relief in tasting — a bit at a time.

So how do we experience relief? Let me count the ways I’ve recently felt relief.

We just finished a partial family gathering. It was so much fun and I enjoyed the heck out of it. For some family members, it was the first time they visited us in this new city. For others, they found newness in the various venues we visited.

We enjoyed a glass of Octoberfest beer together, and one of the group had a mimosa. Variety is the spice of life, and as we toasted our time together, I was reminded how relieved I felt because they all arrive safely.

One of my parental quirks is that, when a family member or friend leaves me, I ask them to let me know when they safely arrive home. Two of our family came from New York, one from the Chicago area and two from Minneapolis. I have to admit I didn’t ask them to let me know when they arrived home. After I figured they were all home, I asked them and they all arrive safely home. That, my friends, brought a great sense of relief to me.

Therefore, today I tasted a bit Dancing Bull Zinfandel. Its light spiciness and black cherry tastes added to my sense of relief, and all was well.

I’m always fascinated where that sense of relief hits me. A while ago I was with a friend, and we walked to a local chocolate store. I asked my companion to tell me she smelled as we walked into the store, and of course, the answer was chocolate! Somehow, that smell of chocolate gives me relief — it smells so dang good, and of course, tastes so wonderful! Why wouldn’t one feel less stress in a chocolate store?

That experience called for a special wine. I had a few tastes of Apothic Inferno — a red blend that’s aged in whiskey barrels for at least 60 days. I thoroughly enjoyed the tastes of maple syrup and the tiny bit of spice. It just might go extremely well with chocolate. Hmmm … guess that means I’ll have to return to that chocolate shop! Of course, it’s all about feeling relief, right?

I don’t know where you find relief, but coffee shops do it for me. That smell of coffee is so pleasing to me. The local coffee shop seems to know me. I wonder why?

How about walking by a flower shop and smelling the fragrance of the flowers. That gives me great pleasure, and always brings a smile to my face. How can one not embrace the beauty of flowers?

There are so many ways to experience relief, and recently I opened a bottle of New Age white wine made in Argentina. It’s a blend of Torrontés (90%) and Sanvignon Blanc (10%). It’s a rather unique blend and was a pleasant surprise to me. I loved the crispness and light fizziness of the wine. Its light tropical fruit flavors were welcome along with its semi-sweetness flavor. Such a relief after a tense day!

Like so many of our emotions, we just need to notice what gives us relief, and enjoy them. May you find relief!