Stop and Smell the Flowers

Hey Party People,

Happy FIRST Long Weekend of the Summer! I’ll be enjoying my first camping weekend when this lands in your inbox. Oh, how I love the smell of a campfire and being outdoors.

This week I want to remind you to enjoy the little things in life. I mean when was the last time you stopped to smell the flowers, took in a breath of fresh air or enjoyed the aromas of your morning coffee? Stop to smell the roses - it’s a common saying we hear but not one we often practice – wouldn’t you agree?

Life gets in the way and we are rushing from one task, one place, or from one kid to another. We forget to take notice of the beauty that surrounds us, the little things that make life worth it. I took notice of all the trees blooming in my community this morning and even stopped to smell the flowers. Yes, I physically stopped in the street to smell the new blooms.

Spring is a beautiful time to take notice of new growth and new blooms – I mean this literally and metaphorically. There is physical growth and transformation all around us during this time, as the grass comes out of dormancy, trees bloom, and the tulips and daffodils smile. It’s also happening within ourselves. As the days get longer and the weather warmer we naturally have more energy and a pep in our step. This pep comes from change and transition.

We often view change as being hard (which I’ll be the first to agree it’s f*cking hard at times), but holy is there beauty when things change as well. Have you ever shaken up your life in a way that changes everything, even temporarily? Shaken it up in a way that gave you a newfound appreciation for what you have or perhaps awakened you to new desires you didn’t know you wanted?

I’ll give you an example from my life – spending time with my 2 beautiful nieces. At ages 3 and a half and about 9 months, they are FULL of wonder, innocence, and emotion. They remind me what it’s like to be curious with their endless questions of why. They remind me that life can be simple if we just asked for what we want – and let me tell you that 3 year old knows what she wants. And they also remind me how much I appreciate that I get to go home without them in tow. Kids are exhausting – Ammi right?!

It doesn’t require a massive life shift for you to take notice of the beauty already present in your life, just a small shift in perspective. It also doesn’t require massive life changes to add more beauty to your life either. As the weather and seasons change, notice how you are changing as well and embrace the beauty of that. You can choose to stop and smell the flowers at any time. And doesn’t today seem like a good day to do start?

Here’s an encouraging party jam to remind you your life can be E-L-E-C-T-R-I-C.

Electric – Katy Perry

With Gratitude,

-S

P.S. Did you miss last week’s post?! I dive into how scary it is to own and step into your personal power. We’re not taught once we hit adulthood that we can be or do anything our heart's desire but rather we’re taught to make decisions with logic. I think we need to listen to our hearts and quiet our minds a little more to Own Your Power. Check it out and let me know what you think!