Stop and Smell The Roses

“Take time to stop and smell the roses” is an old adage, but one that was a poignant reminder for me today. It was a busy day, full of meetings and errands, and I was rushing home to move on to the next task before picking up my daughter from school.

I was feeling stressed and annoyed at all I still had left to do, but as I pulled into my driveway I noticed that our roses were blooming. Yes, roses blooming in December. In Boston.

We’ve had some warm weather lately, and the roses were open and beautiful. I went over to get a closer look and as I took a deep breath and smelled their sweet fragrance, I started to feel better and less stress.

Hmm, was the universe trying to tell me something? Maybe I needed to slow down a bit.

Although you may not have the opportunity to literally smell the roses like I did today, don’t forget to pause, take a breath, and notice the beautiful things in your life. It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday chaos, so this year, this weekend, remember to take some time out to slow down and enjoy what’s most important to you.