I heard it again today in a conversation I was having -- the importance of taking time to "stop and smell the roses." Slow down. Take a break. Relax.
And yet, I rarely see the behavior patterns of those around me change. It's just rush, rush, rush.
I've heard it time and time again at the funeral of a friend or loved one -- "We should really get together more often." But it never happens.
Or we hear of an acquaintence who's our age who suffered a stroke or heart attack or was recently diagnosed with cancer. It reminds us of our own mortality and the importance of not putting things off until tomorrow. But we continue to put things off until tomorrow, and the next day, and the next and the next.
Don't get me wrong -- I'm just as guilty of this as the next person. But I will also say, I have made a real effort over the past several months to "play" more and really pay attention to the little things, and life has certainly been better.
Business is still booming, the house still gets cleaned, the bills still get paid, the grocery shopping is still done.
But all of that is wrapped in loads of memories...
Rolling down the hill with my nephew, going to the kite festival, playing in the sandbox, watching the flowers drink their water, sitting at the beach and just listening, enjoying dinner with friends, going for bike rides, sitting around a campfire, going to a Brewers game, visiting my niece at college, re-connecting with past customers and old friends, and laughing.
Now is the time for you to slow down. Take a break. Relax.
What are you waiting for??
