“ Many eyes go through the meadow, but few see the flowers in it.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
You are working too hard sweetheart! Stop and appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.
When I first moved to the US, I was blown away by the presence of flowers on the roadside, freeways, homes, and gardens. Roses, groundcovers, hedges, flowering shrubs, and flowering trees grace the suburbs. Garden centers are full of seasonal flowers. I was in awe! The smell of flowers from a citrus tree was mind-blowing.
A few decades later…. As I pass by the same plants, I am unimpressed. I am bored finding the same flowers and plants in garden centers. Neighbors have dug up their rose bushes and lawn, replacing them with artificial lawns or colored stone. Everything looks ordinary.
What happened? Why have I stopped admiring nature, present at my doorstep? Why do the routines of life seem dull? Why the ordinary doesn’t seem beautiful?
As per this study, savoring the present moment brings out positive emotions in us. I am all up for that! It’s time for soul searching. It’s time for a change!
You see dear friends, beauty is present all around us. It is in the clouds, in the smell of the morning air, in the song of birds, in the stillness of the day, even in a traffic jam! We just have to look for it and appreciate it.
In our current environment, we are always stimulated with new ideas and shiny things through advertisements, Instagram, and other social media. There is always a sense of “ not enough”. Not enough money. Not enough clothes. Not big enough homes. Not a right enough car. Not enough social recognition. Not enough friends. Not enough social engagements. Not enough perfect body. Not enough talent. The list is never-ending.
But we are perfect and have enough to make us live a satisfied life. Do you know there is always someone who doesn’t have what we have? They will do anything to get our lifestyle. We are so blessed to have been given this life. A chance to breathe, to love, to be loved, to make mistakes, to learn from mistakes, to smell the flowers. All we need to do is change our perspectives.
Are we ready to change our attitudes to live asatisfied, happy life? I know I am.
7 Tips to stop and smell the flowers
Here are some ways, I will incorporate to stop and smell the flowers, to change my perspective towards life.
- Wake up with the daily affirmation/prayer: “Thank you, for gifting me this day. I am so blessed to have …name things you appreciate like family, home, health, possessions, etc.”
- While having morning java: Remind myself that I am blessed to have my tea or coffee
- Meal time: Thank you prayer for the meal provided to me. We are blessed to have food set before us. Not everyone is this lucky. This brings me to the next point.
- Volunteer: This is the biggest impact to appreciate the world around us. Just deciding to volunteer will make us realize our abilities and blessings. Volunteering at homeless shelters will make us realize that we are blessed to have food. Volunteering our time with an organization will help us appreciate our talents. My plan is to find an organization to volunteer for at least once a month.
- Nature walks: Go for regular walks in gardens to appreciate the greenery and truly smell the flowers.
- Plant a garden no matter how small. I have plans to purchase more seasonal flowers for my garden. The act of caring for a tiny plant, takes away the focus from self. A perfect example of mindfulness.
- Before bed: Think about three good things that happened to me. Examples: Good chat with my parents, a smile on my loved one, a stranger let me go ahead in line, spotting a red rose, seeing a cute bunny in my yard, hearing a bird song, etc.
Conclusion:
No matter where we are in life, we need to appreciate the small blessings around us. We need to be satisfied with, what we have…. our efforts, our family, our possessions, and the world around us. We have enough. Let’s stop and smell the flowers!
Live simpy, bloom wildly.
Anonymus
