Lesson #8. Stop and smell the flowers.

Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.  ~Pooh's Little Instruction Book, inspired by A.A. Milne

A full course load, hours of homework every night, and a full time job.  That's how I spent my college years.  I was running from place to place and ate in the car.  My bed was my sanctuary and I cried myself to sleep many nights.  I managed to somehow stay in the honors program and my job went well, I even got a meager promotion.  But I was tired, physically and mentally.  Overwhelmed.  I had a goal and I was going for it like a steam roller. 

While in the MBA program, I was also working full time, but to add a little more excitement to my plate, I was also married and pregnant. I delivered my first baby by c-section just weeks after graduation and walked in the ceremony with a 3 week old baby home with Daddy.  Following graduation, I took the usual 6 weeks off, and returned to work, with baby in a sling. I did this until she walked.  And then, we found out we were going to have a second child. OK, time to stop and smell the flowers.

 

 It was then that my husband and I chose to make a big move to be closer to family.  I'm talking from Hawaii to Georgia.  Pregnant with a 2 year old in tow, we shipped our car to Los Angeles, CA and drove to Georgia. Finally, out of work, home with toddler and waiting patiently for baby #2 to arrive. It was like heaven.  I was able to breathe.  Not that being pregnant and with toddler is easy, but I was no longer scheduled down to the minute.

What I learned is that even with goals to meet and dreams to be had, there is no excuse for skipping rest and pleasure.  Stop and smell the flowers doesn't mean that you need to actually smell flowers (though it's nice), but it means to slow down and find rest.  Enjoy little moments to de-stress.  A friend of mine gave my husband and I a 'fix your marriage DVD" that was offering to fix a struggling marriage through laughter.  I was skeptical, but am always up for a good laugh.  Mark Gungor's Laugh Your Way to a better Marriage was a hysterical look at marriage, but also offered some much needed insight on the workings of the man's brain and the woman's brain.  The marriage advice was great, but what really hit me hard was the difference between a man's brain and a woman's.  It's hysterical, but my husband and I agree that Mark was right on the money!

What I got out of this is what all women already know way down deep.  Men have the natural ability to relax, even when we think they shouldn't.  Women on the other hand must deliberately slow down, clear our thoughts, and relax.  There are so many beautiful things in this world that are simple and free, why would we not want to divulge in some of it?  Stress can eat you alive, so keep it in check.  And what ever you do, don't wait until your about to be swept over the falls.......make time, take time, and enjoy the people, places and things you adore.  
 

 And while taking time to relax and enjoy ourselves is vital to happiness, don't spend so much time playing that you get lazy.  Smelling the flowers is far enough, don't eat the dirt.