STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES

Remember the expression "stop and smell the roses?"  It means we need to take time out of our busy schedule to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of life. 

This is easier for me to do at this stage in my life. My business is established. My career is built - I'm not trying to climb the ladder of success. I'm an empty nester. My schedule is crammed with stuff.

Some of my friends are so busy being busy that they don't have time to stop and smell the roses. More so, life is controlling them, not them controlling their busy lives.

I've noticed some people with kids are controlled by their kids. They don't go to movies, or hang out with friends because they "have kids".  It looks to me like their kids are running the show.  (Now, I'm not thinking of anyone in particular so don't think I'm trying to speak to you, specifically, through this blog.)

Other people are so used to being in a routine that they don't venture out of the house. No dates with their spouse, no going to the theatre, or a party, or a concert - they just stay home. It's just easier to stay home, in a boring routine, than doing something. No exercise - just lame TV shows washing over them on the couch.

I hear "We can't get a baby-sitter". Maybe your circle of friends is small?  Maybe, (I'm shouting) because you don't go out of the house and meet people!

To each his own. Maybe staying home brings you joy, in some bizarre, sedimentary kind of way.

I'm in a very fortunate position to be at the top of the food chain in my business - I get to run the show. I have a great staff (that I hired) and a house that's paid for.  Ya, and my kids have a great family, and like Janice and I, God is first in the lives of our kids.

Smart people I met told me when I was younger, to burn. I worked bloody hard, learned lots, met smart people and built a life and career so that at this stage in my life, I don't have to work so hard. I have time to stop and smell the roses.

The roses for me are sometimes social, but mostly meditative.

It's being thankful for the life I have.  Call it luck, or hard work - either. Maybe both. But I'm grateful that I take time to take it all in, like inhaling a huge lung of appreciation.

My message is this: get a babysitter. Go out. Enjoy the life you've built. Get off the treadmill of being busy. You're only busy because you've made it like that.