It was Sunday morning. A stunning 75 degree day with clear, bright blue skies. Summer was in full swing. Brunch was at a large vineyard in the Willamette Valley on the patio overlooking a small, man-made lake. Bees buzzed around the lavender, the sun glistened on the water. What a day! The 5 year-old yellow Labrador thought so too. She ran around with glee, welcoming each visitor as they arrived. After some time, she settled on the bark dust in the middle of the gardens. Just as the gathering was in full swing, she meandered through the lavender, pausing at the single hydrangea plant in the garden. She softly took in the smell of each blossom, pausing longer than she had for anything else all day.
Wow, did she have the idea! After several days of bouncing from one thing to the next, she reminded me about the important things in life. Stop and smell the roses! It is so easy to get swept up in the craze of the day, whether at work or in life. It is so nice to take a step back and appreciate what is around you. When was the last time you stopped to smell the roses?