Taking Time to Smell the Roses

We are so often caught up in our destination that we forget
to appreciate the journey, especially the goodness of the
people we meet on the way.  Appreciation is a wonderful
feeling; don't overlook it.

--Unknown--

As the weekend once again approaches, it is time for us to slow down and take time to embrace each passing moment; alas, in today's fast-paced society, this is  something many of us fail to do.  We are always rushing to get somewhere and in doing so, become so preoccupied with our destination,  that we fail to appreciate the actual journey itself.  It is so easy to forget to take the time to simply breathe and appreciate life. I am definitely guilty of this.  Well, maybe not so much anymore because age has slowed me down,  but there was a time that hubby didn't even want to take walks with me.  Put it this way, if it were a race, I would be at the finish line and he only making the first lap.  That's the way I was with everything.  Focus on the destination...forget the journey.  Hubby used to tell me all the time, "Slow down.  The store is not going any place, and you are missing so much. Take some take time to smell the roses."

Hubby was right in so many ways.  The truth is, always being in a hurry doesn't always get you were you need to be.  Oh, it may get you where you have to be, but that's not always where you need to be. I have to go to work.  I have to go to the store.  I always had to be on the move when I really should have been doing is appreciating life.  Yes, it's true, we do have to work, and we do  have to eat so we must go to the store.   But what about after work, or after we come home from the store?  What do we do then?   Is it really necessary that we  continuously busy ourselves with endless tasks,  or do we pause and take the time to appreciate our loved ones and the beauty of the universe that surrounds us?  Do we ever take the time to smell the roses?

Taking time out of our busy lives to smell the roses is just another way of saying that it is so important for us to pause now and then throughout our hectic days to appreciate all the wondrous things that are right in front of our nose. A smile from a store clerk when we stop to buy our coffee or a cheerful good morning from our neighbor can act as a catalyst to turn our negatives into positives. By slowing down and paying more attention to the little things that we pass on our journey, our lives will feel that much more meaningful when we reach our destination. 

Oh, there are times, I will admit, that I do miss that little pep in my step and wish I could keep up like I used to, but the trade off is well worth it.  Since I have slowed my step down. I've noticed that a neighbor down the block has a magnificent Holly tree in their front yard.  I've lived here going on 12 years, and this year is the first time I noticed it.  That just goes to show how much I have missed.  So, with the weekend upon us, be sure to take the time to smell the roses.  You never know what  you will find.

Life just is.  You have to flow with it.
Give yourself to the moment.  Let it happen.

--Jerry Brown--