--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was beginning to taste it. Something…" description: "\"“I was beginning to taste it. Something bitter, but warm. A flavor that woke me up and let me see things clearly. A flavor that made me feel safe, so I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/judith-fertig-22510_change-of-heart_i-was-beginning-to-taste-it-something-bi_108439.jpg" --- # I was beginning to taste it. Something bitter, but warm. A… ![“I was beginning to taste it. Something bitter, but warm. A flavor that woke me up and let me see things clearly. A flavor that made me feel safe, so I could let those things go. A flavor that held my hand and walked me across to the other side of loss, and assured me that one day, I would be just…” quote by Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/judith-fertig-22510_change-of-heart_i-was-beginning-to-taste-it-something-bi_108439.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/judith-fertig-22510_change-of-heart_i-was-beginning-to-taste-it-something-bi_108439.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/judith-fertig-22510_change-of-heart_i-was-beginning-to-taste-it-something-bi_108439.jpg) > ““I was beginning to taste it. Something bitter, but warm. A flavor that woke me up and let me see things clearly. A flavor that made me feel safe, so I could let those things go. A flavor that held my hand and walked me across to the other side of loss, and assured me that one day, I would be just fine. A flavor for a change of heart- part grief, part hope. Suddenly, I knew what that flavor would be. I padded down to the kitchen and cut a slice of sour cream coffee cake with a spicy underground river coursing through its center, left over from an order that had not been picked up today. One bite and I was sure. A familiar flavor that now seemed utterly fresh and custom-made for me. Cinnamon. The comfort of sweet cinnamon. It always worked. I felt better. Lighter. Not quite "everything is going to be all right," but getting there. One step at a time.”” [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sensory metaphor describes how a simple, comforting flavor (cinnamon) can provide solace and a gradual sense of hope during grief. **In simple terms:** Cinnamon comforts the grieving heart. Key Takeaway Small, familiar comforts aid emotional recovery. Themes grief comfort sensory metaphor hope healing Mood warm hopeful soothing Type narrative metaphorical When to use this quote - after a loss - during illness recovery - when facing anxiety Key Concepts embodied cognition emotional regulation Practical Applications - use familiar sensory cues to ground yourself in distress Questions to Reflect On - How can a sensory habit shift your mood? Which comfort does you associate with safety? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change of heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-of-heart/) [Remembrance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembrance/) ## Related quotes > [“It wasn't often that I had difficulty tasting something. Flavor was the way people like me made sense of the world. We knew that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/it-wasn-t-often-that-i-had-difficulty-tasting-something-flavor-was/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“An orange day, a happy day, a brand-new day in the secret language that only the three of us seemed to understand. "Mmmmm," Daddy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/an-orange-day-a-happy-day-a-brand-new-day-in-the-secret-language-that/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [I wouldn't lie to you would I > Did you know that shoving a table spoon of cinnamon up your ass can cut the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-josh/i-wouldn-t-lie-to-you-would-i-did-you-know-that-shoving-a-table-spoon/) Jean Josh > [Promises are lies wrapped in pretty ribbons -Cinnamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/promises-are-lies-wrapped-in-pretty-ribbons-cinnamon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Soon to come in licorice, orange, cinnamon, and banana, but not strawberry, because I hate strawberries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/soon-to-come-in-licorice-orange-cinnamon-and-banana-but-not/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [In November, the smell of food is different. It is an orange smell. A squash and pumpkin smell. It tastes like cinnamon and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-rylant/in-november-the-smell-of-food-is-different-it-is-an-orange-smell-a/) [Cynthia Rylant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-rylant/) > [I wasn't eating the right kinds of calories. I didn't know about healthy carbs such as brown rice and lentils. Now I eat small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sweeney/i-wasn-t-eating-the-right-kinds-of-calories-i-didn-t-know-about/) [Alison Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sweeney/) > [I realize that it's like spices in the kitchen. I need that turmeric. I'm sorry, but cinnamon isn't going to substitute . I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-realize-that-it-s-like-spices-in-the-kitchen-i-need-that-turmeric-i/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [“Why do you smell like cinnamon?" "All the better to entice you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/why-do-you-smell-like-cinnamon-all-the-better-to-entice-you/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“His voice was chipper. Cinnamon hated chipper. She wrapped Chipper up in duct tape, pounded nails into it and used it to beat the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-annino/his-voice-was-chipper-cinnamon-hated-chipper-she-wrapped-chipper-up/) [Barbra Annino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-annino/) > [Tigers love pepper...they hate cinnamon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/tigers-love-pepper-they-hate-cinnamon/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [I miss your silent stature, your avoided days of disaster, your present state of distress. Im cinnamon, cloves and fire, you are the rested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-miss-your-silent-stature-your-avoided-days-of-disaster-your-present/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [His smell—the scent of a demon, cinnamon incense, amber musk—wrapped around me, filled my lungs. I felt like I could breathe again, without every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilith-saintcrow/his-smell-the-scent-of-a-demon-cinnamon-incense-amber-musk-wrapped/) [Lilith Saintcrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilith-saintcrow/) > [C'mon, Amy, cinnamon rolls are calling us." Dan put a hand to his ear. "Do you hear? 'Amy? Dan?'" he squeaked. "'Come and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/c-mon-amy-cinnamon-rolls-are-calling-us-dan-put-a-hand-to-his-ear-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He spoke her name as though he held cinnamon in his mouth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/he-spoke-her-name-as-though-he-held-cinnamon-in-his-mouth/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) ## More by Judith Fertig > [“She couldn't see the homemade colored sprinkles, the tender yellow cake, or the pale pink frosting made with strawberry syrup enhanced with a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/she-couldn-t-see-the-homemade-colored-sprinkles-the-tender-yellow/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“I didn't know until I licked the mocha buttercream from my third devil's food cupcake that this was the flavor of starting over- dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-didn-t-know-until-i-licked-the-mocha-buttercream-from-my-third/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“I was starting to think of her as the "Goth Van Gogh" on a good day or "Vampira" on a bad one. She took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-was-starting-to-think-of-her-as-the-goth-van-gogh-on-a-good-day-or/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“Jett's artistic talent was as weighty and emphatic as the heavy black makeup she applied to her lips and eyelids.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/jett-s-artistic-talent-was-as-weighty-and-emphatic-as-the-heavy-black/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“At Rainbow Cake, January's special flavors would be dark chocolate and coffee, those pick-me-ups we all needed to start the day- or a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/at-rainbow-cake-january-s-special-flavors-would-be-dark-chocolate-and/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“Could a flavor be pleased with itself and its position in the world? That was plum. Not the sharp-flavored skin and the sweet flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/could-a-flavor-be-pleased-with-itself-and-its-position-in-the-world/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“At the far end of the bakery, our canvas curtain heralded April's lime and coconut theme. Little bags of coconut meringue polka dots with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/at-the-far-end-of-the-bakery-our-canvas-curtain-heralded-april-s-lime/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“I knew that sunny citrus helped put things in focus, sharpened the memory, just like a squeeze of lemon juice could sharpen and clarify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-knew-that-sunny-citrus-helped-put-things-in-focus-sharpened-the/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“Let's not freak out here," Jett said, ever the diplomat in venom green nail polish and little skull earrings. "People aren't going to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/let-s-not-freak-out-here-jett-said-ever-the-diplomat-in-venom-green/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“People I had never seen before flocked in, their faces showing a longing you never saw for cake. People's eyes lit up for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/people-i-had-never-seen-before-flocked-in-their-faces-showing-a/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“The flavor that came to me was a luscious Suncrest peach that I once had in California. This heirloom variety needed time to ripen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/the-flavor-that-came-to-me-was-a-luscious-suncrest-peach-that-i-once/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“The flavor the came to me was a luscious Sincerest peach that I once had in California. This heirloom variety needed time to ripen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/the-flavor-the-came-to-me-was-a-luscious-sincerest-peach-that-i-once/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“The tantalizing scent transported me to a white, sandy beach lapped by a turquoise sea under a tropical sun. Lime and coconut were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/the-tantalizing-scent-transported-me-to-a-white-sandy-beach-lapped-by/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“I looked up to see the sun struggling behind a gray mass of snow clouds. I could relate. And then a beam of sunlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-looked-up-to-see-the-sun-struggling-behind-a-gray-mass-of-snow/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“He opened the box and saw a tiny cake shaped like a bird's nest in three small round layers of tender, browned-butter vanilla cake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/he-opened-the-box-and-saw-a-tiny-cake-shaped-like-a-bird-s-nest-in/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) [Explore all 27 Judith Fertig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) ## More Change of heart quotes > [Harrow the house of the dead; look shining at New styles of architecture, a change of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/harrow-the-house-of-the-dead-look-shining-at-new-styles-of/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [But when 9/11 struck, I had a change of heart. I knew the story had to be told because what happened at 9/11 is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perkins/but-when-9-11-struck-i-had-a-change-of-heart-i-knew-the-story-had-to/) [John Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perkins/) > [“Jesus changes our history from a random series of sad incidents and accidents into a constant opportunity for a change of heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/jesus-changes-our-history-from-a-random-series-of-sad-incidents-and/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [The whole course of human history may depend on a change of heart in one solitary and even humble individual - for it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/the-whole-course-of-human-history-may-depend-on-a-change-of-heart-in/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [The Good News is that God's mercy and forgiveness extend to those who repent. Mercy does not mean approving of something that is sinful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-paprocki/the-good-news-is-that-god-s-mercy-and-forgiveness-extend-to-those-who/) [Thomas J. Paprocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-paprocki/) > [“A change of heart changes everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-stocker/a-change-of-heart-changes-everything/) [Todd Stocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-stocker/) > [“It was not compassion that led to Daniel's change of heart, and it was not kindness. It was realizing that, against all odds, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-was-not-compassion-that-led-to-daniel-s-change-of-heart-and-it-was/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Regeneration can come only through a change of heart in the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-williamson/regeneration-can-come-only-through-a-change-of-heart-in-the-individual/) [Henry Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-williamson/) > [Sometime during the mid-50s I said, 'I am an artist.' Before that, for many years, I had said, 'I'm going to be an artist.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/sometime-during-the-mid-50s-i-said-i-am-an-artist-before-that-for/) [Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/) > [“In a flash I had a change of heart. Even one precious life was worth saving. Japan was defeated; but the wounded were still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-nagai/in-a-flash-i-had-a-change-of-heart-even-one-precious-life-was-worth/) [Takashi Nagai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-nagai/) > [“Respectability politics is the dogged belief that if black people just shape up, dress right, and act right, racists would suddenly have a dramatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikesh-shukla/respectability-politics-is-the-dogged-belief-that-if-black-people/) [Nikesh Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikesh-shukla/) > [“Before you can change what is coming out of your mouth you will need a change of heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-moore/before-you-can-change-what-is-coming-out-of-your-mouth-you-will-need/) Dave Moore > [“Don’t look now,” she whispered loudly. “It seems your non-alpha man has had a change of heart about chasing your high-maintenance ass, after all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-smith/don-t-look-now-she-whispered-loudly-it-seems-your-non-alpha-man-has/) [Andrea Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-smith/) > [I am no longer amazed by how quickly a man will justify his change of heart when a spear is leveled his way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-no-longer-amazed-by-how-quickly-a-man-will-justify-his-change-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once you have given up the ghost, everything follows with dead certainty, even in the midst of chaos. From the beginning it was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/once-you-have-given-up-the-ghost-everything-follows-with-dead/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) [Browse all 122 Change of heart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-of-heart/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was beginning to taste it. Something bitter, but warm. A flavor that woke me up and let me see things clearly. A flavor that made me feel safe, so I could let those things go. A flavor that held my hand and walked me across to the other side of loss, and assured me that one day, I would be just fine. A flavor for a change of heart- part grief, part hope. Suddenly, I knew what that flavor would be. I padded down to the kitchen and cut a slice of sour cream coffee cake with a spicy underground river coursing through its center, left over from an order that had not been picked up today. One bite and I was sure. A familiar flavor that now seemed utterly fresh and custom-made for me. Cinnamon. The comfort of sweet cinnamon. It always worked. I felt better. Lighter. Not quite \"everything is going to be all right,\" but getting there. One step at a time.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Judith Fertig" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-was-beginning-to-taste-it-something-bitter-but-warm-a-flavor-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change of heart" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-was-beginning-to-taste-it-something-bitter-but-warm-a-flavor-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/judith-fertig-22510_change-of-heart_i-was-beginning-to-taste-it-something-bi_108439.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/judith-fertig-22510_change-of-heart_i-was-beginning-to-taste-it-something-bi_108439.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/judith-fertig-22510_change-of-heart_i-was-beginning-to-taste-it-something-bi_108439.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was beginning to taste it. Something bitter, but warm. A flavor that woke me up and let me see things…” — Judith Fertig", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Judith Fertig", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I was beginning to taste it....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-was-beginning-to-taste-it-something-bitter-but-warm-a-flavor-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-was-beginning-to-taste-it-something-bitter-but-warm-a-flavor-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```