Stop and Smell the Roses

Stop and smell the roses. This phrase has been used to explain the importance of slowing down and even stopping to observe the beauty of life. Most often we race from destination to destination. We need to graduate, get a job, get married, buy a house, have kids, build a career, plan retirement, retire and then travel (code for smelling roses).

It’s kind of sad when it’s written out like that. We are goal-driven and seek to accomplish in order to better our station in life. Goals are great and hard work is even better but is it possible that we’re driven to accomplish simply because we can. To my knowledge, we are the only species in the universe that can cogitate, set goals, work hard, fail time after time, work harder and then achieve them. It is also my understanding that we are the only species that is able to make a conscious decision to stop and enjoy life.

Vacationing is not the answer. Stopping and smelling the roses is different from planning, saving, and initiating travel to anywhere but home. Stopping requires you to halt forward motion. To stop our forward motion requires as much discipline as a movement. It seems simple but it’s not. Stopping is frowned on. Stopping will get you honked at and have people questioning your abilities and common sense.

Smelling is one of the five senses and more importantly, the one tied closest to memory. Smelling requires a deep breath and typically ends with a smirk or smile. Today is the day that you have the opportunity to slow your heart rate. Take a walk outside, set the goals aside, come to a complete stop, take a big inhale through your nose and exhale with gratitude for all that you have been given.

Breathe,