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Do you know how to enjoy the moment?

13 October 2009 20 Comments

Smelling the Roses

It occurred to me that sometimes with all the things we face in life you find yourself wondering if we’ll only know peace when we die, thus it becomes imperative that each of us take a moment to smell the roses and sometimes the flowers in the supermarket which I noticed don’t always have a sweet smell, is this what all the processing and greenhouse growth does to even our precious flowers. So I’m going to suggest a smell the rose’s box which you fill with funny sayings, happy cards you’ve received, photos of those you love or your lucky charm, something which will bring a smile to your face once you take a moment to sit down and look through your smell the roses box thus who cares if the florist flowers don’t smell anymore.

Mine is a painted box from Monet with a lovely scene of flowers and beautiful colors I’ve filled it with prayers and some other papers which bring me joy every time I look at them. It happened by accident as I was healing from the cancer last year and I wanted to keep my prayers close that I’d recite daily for healing and God’s strength, thus you might want to do the same or consider anything that makes you smile.

I try to take time a few times a week to look at my box and enjoy the keepsakes I’ve collected in the last two years and now it’s become my smile box because every time I look at it I’m reminded of the power of the mind and how it brings me serenity and peace each time I pick it up and look through the papers and my own private collection of prayers. Often I reorganize and decide if I should add or take away some of the stuff and this in itself has become a ritual it’s almost ceremonial and I giggle when I realize how childish and wonderful this has become for my soul. Therefore, consider your possibilities and create your sunshine box and begin enjoying the power of smelling the roses if only in your perception pretend the box is a mental exercise in remembering how to celebrate life as we never know how long we have therefore, it’s so important to enjoy whatever time is left, my undertaking observe everything in life and continue to understand each day while remembering to smell the roses, and the box is my symbol to immediately prepare to relax and enjoy life around me if only for moments because they become mine and now they can be yours so what are you waiting for go on and make your smell the roses box tonight you’ll be glad you did.

20 Comments »

willie said:

I keep memories through my photos. I do have a special gift box which i kept for myself. Inside are all the stuff that I received from people and i am always happy when I open it during my free time. I am glad you have yours.

# 13 October 2009 at 10:09 pm

Tricia said:

I always try to take the time to smell the roses – so to speak. I actually have two motto’s (listed on my page) that I try to live by – live life to the fullest and don’t have any regrets.

I don’t have a rose box but I do have roses. When we moved into our house in 2001 I was determined to have a garden and in the spring of 2002 and my husband and I started creating our garden. It has a lot of plants, but the largest majority are roses – we have about 60 rose bushes! So I literally do take the time to smell the roses! Oh and how lovely it is. In the winter when my roses are covered in snow and ice I look at the pictures that I’ve taken of them instead – I guess that’s my winter rose box.

I’ve been off work on medical leave for about four years now, but when I was working in the emergency room – especially after a night shift, I’d head home and one of the first things I’d do would be to go into my garden and take some time just to look at my plants and smell the flowers. It really took the stress of my shift at the hospital away.

I’ve always tried to enjoy life and make the most of things. As you know I have Crohns and I can get quite sick at times, but I try to stay optimistic. Life is fleeting and you have to make the most of it.

And you’re right – super market flowers don’t have much scent – do they? LOL

# 13 October 2009 at 10:10 pm

cherie de castro said:

whenever my mom said that when i was younger i would roll my eyes and think ‘corny’ but these days, ms. dorothy, i realize the importance of that. my roses would be my daily dose of iloveyous from my boys, slobbery kisses form the kids and hugs from my husband. this is a houseful of ’smelly’ roses…

# 13 October 2009 at 10:49 pm

C said:

What a lovely, lovely, and original idea, grandma D!!! I love this idea!!! How wonderful!!!!

When I was little, I had a little folder, and in it I kept notes from my classmates that they sent to me. My classmates used to send me many cute and sweet notes, and I kept all of them! Something like this, I guess! I had stickers inside it, too!

I have also noticed that the flowers at the supermarket are a little bit stinky-poo! (

# 13 October 2009 at 11:41 pm

celticmusicfan said:

I live each day to savour the moments. Thank you for reminding us the value of each moments in this so-called life. I think everything is part of the picture: the pain, the laughter, the joy of seeing the baby walk for the first time, the falling leaves…life is a miracle!

# 14 October 2009 at 4:46 am

Rudy said:

That’s a brilliant idea about ’smell the roses box’. Personally, I use to take deep breathe and stay still to enjoy the moment, feel the air from nose to your whole body and grateful for it. That make me feel so free.

This post is fabulous, a pleasure for me to read it. Thanks for it.

# 14 October 2009 at 6:08 am

THE GUYS said:

Definitely great advice. We all need to enjoy the moment, and have our own sunshine boxes.

Our biggest mantra is: “BE PRESENT”

Otherwise we’ll miss life!

Thanks.

# 14 October 2009 at 7:05 am

Tina t said:

One of my friends challenged me to reflect on my day and see how many things there were that I could have taken joy in if I had taken a few extra moments to enjoy them. I consider myself an in the moment kind of person, yet I still found many opportunities that I missed.

I like your idea of having something visual to help us keep it all in perspective. It’s far too easy to forget the things that are most important when we’re speeding along through life.

# 14 October 2009 at 8:42 am

PJ said:

what a marvelous idea dorothy! i don’t have a box per say, but i have many little things all around my home that give me constant reminders of what life is really about. the simple things that we tend to take for granted, family, friends, all of that makes me smile. you have a great day…hugz!

# 14 October 2009 at 9:06 am

Grampa Ken: Social Fix said:

Short breaks with peaceful thoughts are so helpful and enjoyable.
Imagined or real: a comfortable room with soft music, a quiet place in the woods, a placid lake, a beautiful garden with flowers, trees, birds – a ’smell the rose’s box’, all work nicely.

# 14 October 2009 at 12:40 pm

eng@salitype said:

what a lovely idea! i think i will have to do my smell the roses box soon. i got mementos from friends, near and far, and you are right- they do desrved a special, special place other than hearts!

thank you, thank you so much, for sharing the idea!

have a lovely day

# 15 October 2009 at 3:42 am

askcherlock said:

This is a wonderful and charming idea. In this world, where it is so easy to become jaded, a little box like this can be a gentle reminder to cherish the moments and find happiness in life’s simple pleasures. Cards, photos, prayers, keepsakes—how lovely. Thank you for the gentle nudge.

# 15 October 2009 at 10:51 am

Michelle said:

I often ponder over the same questions. Am I stopping to enjoy life or am I just rushing through the entire thing? What an inspiring idea about the box. Beautiful post Dorothy! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comment. You’re honestly one of the sweetest blogging friends I have.

Hugs
Michelle

# 15 October 2009 at 1:27 pm

DorothyL said:

I so wish I was so creative and thoughtful about life and the people I am connected to.
I do however fall asleep each night going over my day and how I managed to involve myself with the goings on in my families life.
I learned long ago just how precious our minutes are and how we should not wait until tomorrow to say.. I love you or ..to thank someone just because they are who they are.

I guess in a way I am on my sentimental journey each day and night…it is all mental mind you but nevertheless…I am quite aware of the essence of time!

Thank you dearest Dorothy…for bringing this reality to the forefront:)

A little nudge goes a long way

# 16 October 2009 at 3:03 pm

OldOldLady Of The Hills said:

That’s a great idea. I find I have to ’stop and smell the roses’ all the time because if I didn’t I would really be in deep doo doo…! Everyone has their own way of doing this and what works for one person may or may not work for someone else….And sometimes I find it is different things that work for me. To me, the important thing is to find what works for you and to lift yourself up by whatever it is. Life is hard so finding those ‘Roses’ can certainly ease the path.

# 17 October 2009 at 10:06 am

Man Over Board said:

You have a wonderful way of speaking to your reader Dorothy. I have come to realize each day that I grow older how true your words resonate in my life as well. Why is it that we do not realize how important each moment we spend here on earth, until something unfortunate happens to make us think. To make us come up with such a touching thought as labeling a simple box your smile box?

In the back of my head I hear the country song of the man who was diagnosed with cancer and that is when he started to live, by riding a bull named “Fu Man Choo” (that I remember, lol) and jumping out of a plane. I can’t remember the person who sang it, but I know it is one of my wifes favorite songs. You see she worked as an RN for 28 years at Hospice and while most people shied away from working at that floor, she flourished and she came away each day with a daily reminder of how much life meant to her.

I appreciate your visit by my little blog and do hope we get to know each other a little better as the weeks pass, kindest regards Glenn

# 17 October 2009 at 11:09 pm

Diane J Standiford said:

My memory box has become two huge rubber containers! My mother has Alzheiemers’s, my 2nd mother Aunt Violet is 102, so each holiday I will decorate with holiday greeting cards from them. My box also hold hundreds of photos, including tin types, and letters from friends and family, over 40 years worth. I’d be lost without it. Great fun.

# 22 October 2009 at 7:52 pm

Angela said:

I think it’s a great idea. I’ve had a “God Box” that I’ve used over the years to put little notes in about things that were upsetting or bothersome that I could not fix… so I was giving them over to God, but maybe I need to have TWO boxes

# 27 October 2009 at 6:10 pm