Take the time to “smell the roses”

More than 40 years ago, when I was in my thirties, I was talking to an elementary school principal and former neighbor who I had known my whole life. At the time, I was working an administrative position at a local library district and working over 50 hours a week. He looked at me and said, “Jane, you’re working too hard. Take the time to smell the roses.

My friends, doctors, and loved ones repeatedly advised me to slow down, but I was always busy getting promotions, earning more degrees, and volunteering in the community. I was often sick, suffered from upper respiratory problems and was constantly taking antibiotics.

Until I was diagnosed with cancer at age 59, my primary care provider said it took cancer to slow me down.

I see young people overdoing it and making the same mistakes as me. I try to tell them to slow down and they listen like I did at that age.

But there’s something worse now. People of all ages use their cell phones and let life slip away from them. I was on a cruise in beautiful Canada. We go on a cruise supposedly to sightsee, relax and take it all in, at least I was. We got off at a harbor and when I looked around I saw that almost everyone was checking their messages and not taking photos of Sydney’s unusual scenery or relaxing.

I live in an apartment with a pond, lots of trees, deer, squirrels and wildlife. The leaves were all turning yellow, red and orange with the beautiful fall scenery. I take my little dog for daily walks and love watching the squirrels climb the trees, the scenery changing before my eyes, and seeing my happy little dog bouncing around. It seems like I’m the only one not looking at my cell phone with the dog leash in one hand and the cell phone in the other. If my eyes were glued to the cell phone, I would miss all this scenery.

I wondered why Americans work so hard. People from other countries don’t understand why. They are very involved in their families, friends, social life and churches, and look at us wondering why.

I have often asked myself in my life why I am in such a hurry. I always tend to plan multiple activities in a day and then feel anxious about being on time and getting everything done. If I’m in such a hurry, where do I think I’m going? Wherever it is, why is it worth it? My answer is: I prefer to take my free time and enjoy the trip. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “It’s the journey, not the destination.” » In the end, no one gets out of life alive.

I have said many times that cancer is a brutal teacher, but not all lessons are difficult. Being forced to slow down isn’t always a bad thing. I recently saw my neighbor at an event and reminded him that he told me that. He just smiled.

As I strut about now, I hear his voice whispering to me to “stop and smell the roses.”

And I do it. We should all try it.

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