Friday, February 11, 2011

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--

10 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your slow down...we all need to remember this occasionally...my father keeps me in line and slows me down to enjoy just nothing...

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  2. Can't afford to buy roses to smell this close to Valentine's Day. The price triples!

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  3. When I'm feeling anxious, it's usually because I've got a fire under my arse. As soon as I realize that and slow down, I feel ten times better. Thanks for the reminder Mary.

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  4. Oh, I agree. I was just reading the second on creativity in Women Who Run With The Wolves (again) and it was all about this busyness - all the stuff that we feel we have to do before we can do what we truly WANT to do - of course most of the time we don't ever get to the stuff we want to do, but spend our time with endless chores that really could have waited. I find myself giving in to this a lot, and lately as I got older I am starting to rethink my priorities.

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  5. Ahhh Yes, Miss Mary! Such a great thing to live by...I pretty much don't rush for anything. I just don't see the point. I'm one of those people though that start off really early to my destination because I like to be early wherever I'm going...once I'm there I love to engage with what is going on around me...whatever that might be. I don't feel rushed that way and am able to interact in a mellow way. It also gives me time to stop if I feel like stopping.
    I hope your weekend is filled with 'Rose-smelling!' :)
    In Love and Blessing for your sharing!

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  6. I do that hurry-hurry-hurry thing, in Pretty Blog Land. How stuuuuuuuuupid is that, hu? :-(

    Hugs and ♥'s...

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  7. I so agree with you Mary.. I think to focus on the present moment is a good thing... when my mind races, I have to bring it back to the task that I am doing.. instead of racing ahead to all the other things i must hurry to do
    have a beautiful weekend xo

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  8. Good morning Mary....I liked this post today...it is so difficult to stay in the present moment. I think all of us have to work on this constantly.

    I remember when I was younger and it always seemed " THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY WHEN..." Like you, as I have slowed down and gotten older I do realize that being happy is a NOW condition not a WHEN condition.

    Hugs sweet lady

    Jo

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  9. Oh I'm with Aine. I have so many little chores to finish before sitting down to write, or go out or do anything else I enjoy. And then I don't get to do what I really want. I think it must be our strict upbringing. Finish your chores first!
    Never mind. I like this post. Yes, take some time to smell flowers (except you can't find them under all this snow!). LOL

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  10. I think about this all of the time with all of the texting that people do and not even seeing where they are going or the change of the season. What could be so important that you can't take your eyes off of it? nothing.....

    (((HUGS)))

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