Skip to main content

Remember...Stop and Smell the Roses!

By Stephen C. Schultz

The breeze was warm as it swirled past me, making the short sleeves of my T-shirt ripple in the wind. The sun was just starting to peek over the mountaintop, yet it had been light for a couple of hours already. When you're at the base of a 10,000-foot mountain, it takes a while for any direct sunlight to appear.

Since it’s Saturday, my ritual usually involves edging the lawn and then mowing it. As I came around the side of the house to mow, I noticed some roses in an overgrown flower bed—a bed that’s home to various ground cover plants and untamed varieties of flora I couldn’t begin to identify.


Stop and smell the roses

Our home was built in the late 1800s by the local County Sheriff. Each spring, flowers and plants appear that I’ve never seen before. There are even some plants that come up every year that I once thought were weeds—until this year, when I was too busy to keep up with the weeding. They blossomed into beautiful little blue flowers! Who would’ve guessed?

The light was shining through some tree limbs and glancing off the leaves and petals of the roses. I actually thought to myself:

“I’m going to stop and smell the roses.”


Stop and smell the roses


I have to admit, with my allergies and the wind blowing, I didn’t smell much. But I did get some pictures as you can see on this page.

While the flowers are pretty, they aren't the purpose of this post. They did start me thinking, however. Are we so busy that we don’t stop and enjoy the subtle pleasures of life? Do we move from one activity to the next, always in a hurry? Are we stressed about how we look, what we drive, or what others think about us?

If so… why?

If not… why not?

Childhood

As adults, have we forgotten the innocence and wonder of playing as a child? You can read a few of my childhood experiences here:

Do we live in the present, or are we locked in the past or worried about the future? The only place we can truly make a difference is in the here and now.

Remember… Stop and smell the roses!


Labels:
Location: United States

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Young Boy and the Rattlesnake

By Stephen C. Schultz (Editors note: This is a story used in a Wilderness Treatment Program. Many come to this program having struggled with depression, anxiety and substance use.)   Many years ago there was a young Native American who lived in the very land you are residing in. He decided to seek wisdom by journeying to the top of Indian Peak. As he approached the base of the mountain he came across a rattlesnake that slithered beside him. The snake coiled as if to strike and the young boy moved back quickly in fear of being struck by the snake’s deadly venom. At that instant the snake spoke to the boy saying, “Don’t be afraid of me, I mean you no harm. I come to you to ask a favor. I see that you are about to traverse to the top of Indian Peak and was hoping that you may be willing to place me in your satchel so that I don’t have to make the long journey alone.” The young boy surprised by the snake’s request quickly responded by turning down the offer, stating, ...
5 comments
Read more

Holiday Insight: Finding Grace in Imperfect Relationships

 By Stephen C. Schultz As we once again head into the Holiday Season, it is important to be aware of the impact of the holidays on those we love and care about. The holidays are often described as a time of joy, family, and celebration. But for many, they bring a quieter reality - one marked by stress, loneliness, or the resurfacing of painful memories. For some people, the holidays represent connection and renewal. For others, they stir up what has been lost, what never was, or what once hurt too much to recall. The very things that make the season feel special - music, smells, family gatherings - can also awaken deep emotional undercurrents, especially for those with a history of trauma. Why the Holidays Can Trigger Past Trauma Many people who have experienced trauma - especially early childhood or relational trauma - notice that this season brings unexpected emotional intensity. Science now confirms what survivors have long known: certain times of year can activate implicit ...
Post a Comment
Read more

An Open Letter to Parents Researching RedCliff Ascent

  By Stephen C. Schultz "We will forever be known by the tracks we leave." Having been raised in Oregon, I spent the majority of my free time during my childhood and teenage years steelhead fishing the coastal waters, climbing the Middle Sister in the Cascade Mountain Range, drifting the McKenzie River, and hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I have mentioned to friends, family, and colleagues on many occasions: “From a therapeutic standpoint, there is no better place to have a student’s issues manifested quickly than in a wilderness setting.” The question then becomes, “Why do therapeutic issues rise to the surface in an Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare program like RedCliff Ascent ?” Throughout the years of teenage development, most teens spend a lot of time with friends. These friends think the same, dress the same, act the same, listen to the same music, and sometimes get into the same types of trouble. Some teens also develop patterns of communication and manipulation whi...
9 comments
Read more