Making the Time to Smell the Roses

Make the time to smell the roses...

If you have been a part of my social media journey for the last decade plus you have likely read, or heard, me say:

"Make time for what matters most."

"Tomorrow is not promised."

"Prioritize your most important priorities."

And a host of other statements all with a similar sentiment.

Much of this, as you know, has evolved from my various lived experiences the losses I have been through. Life has repeatedly reminded me how fragile it all is and nothing is promised beyond now.

That being said, all of this is much easier to say and harder to live.

The world is filled with distractions.

The societal model we are raised in is one that celebrates resume achievements more than eulogy achievements.

We are taught early on to compare ourselves to others. We learn at a young age to measure our sense of self worth to someone something else.

When we turn 25 and have not bought our first Ferrari or partied on a yacht with rock stars, we are some how failures? less than? not good enough?

Even when we do achieve THE success that society suggests we must achieve to "matter," that empty feeling we thought would finally be filled is only amplified.

We were born human beings.

We were trained to become human doings.

Every day I encourage the clients I'm blessed to support and anyone else who will listen, to live in the moment make the most of their right now.

Every day I struggle at applying that to my own life. It is a life time endeavor to become masterful at it.

There are always more opportunities to pursue and people to help.

There are always new pitches, that promise riches, to filter through (I've received four so far today as of this writing).

There are always new symbols of success to measure up against.

The underlying promise of all of this is: happiness, fulfillment, acceptance, belonging, love.

If you are willing to zoom out and take the 10,000 foot perspective, you will see that the societal model is an emotional model. We are all in the business of emotion because emotion is the outcome we are all after. It is our ultimate life pursuit.

Here's the irony of it all...

Emotions are not an IOU or a promise to pay. They are not something that require us to give up or right now for the potential of them showing up tomorrow.

Emotions are life and life is right now.

All that you desire in life, from an emotional perspective, is available to you in this moment. Think of this moment as the most nutrient dense super food that you could consume... that is the emotional equivalent that this moment holds.

When you play with your kids, really play with them - be in the moment.

When you stop to smell the roses, really stop and smell - savor the aromas.

When you see someone smile at you, be present to that smile - receive the emotion behind it.