Stop and Smell the Roses

We have all been told at one time or another in our lives to stop and smell the roses. Unfortunately, we tend to ignore this advice and as time passes we lose out on so much. Life is precious, and often times too short. Every time we rush through our day we miss the opportunity to savor the special moments that are put before us.

How often have we heard our children say, “look at me; look at what I can do!”, only to tell them that we are busy? That one thing that they can finally do, that they are proud of, and we don’t have time. These are moments we will never get back.

We need to ask ourselves, “What are we waiting for”? Putting off all the things we should stop and savor can lead to a life with few memories. When we get closer to the end than the beginning, there will be too many things that we will never have the opportunity to experience again.

Close your eyes and listen carefully to the sounds that swirl around you without notice as you rush through your day. Breathe in the scents that the wind carries through the air; fresh, flowery, sweet or savory. Each one bringing visions of where they originated from and prior life experiences. Sounds and scents trigger strong memories from our past that can bring moments of joy to our day.

If we take time away from our daily commitments what do we fear will happen?  If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that what we will gain is much more rewarding and fulfilling.

Spending time engrossed in our never ending to do list can bring us to a negative place, and steal our joy. Denying pleasure in our day is exhausting, and the world will not fall apart if we indulge in some much needed enjoyment and relaxation.

We can be blind to the wonders we encounter, or we can open our eyes and be in awe of the world around us. Each experience fills our heart with joy and our mind with precious memories that can never be taken away. If we enjoy these mini escapes from our daily routine, we can then say we have had a life well lived.

So, the next time you are feeling overwhelmed, give yourself permission to stop and smell the roses…you will be grateful that you did.