Smell The Roses
“Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.” I’ve heard this saying my whole life, but what does it really mean? In my opinion, it means on our journey through life, we should not get so caught up in reaching our destination that we forget to enjoy all the wonderful things on the way there.
Blogging
Last week, I asked some of my fellow bloggers, “How do you know when you made it?” There were numerous thoughtful answers, but one stood out. One blogger said something to this effect. When I make it, I probably wouldn’t even know it as I would have set up new goals and start to pursue those. I’m all about setting goals, chasing them, and making dreams come true. But this answer made me see how, like everything else, if it is taken to the extreme, it is not ideal. What’s that saying, too much of a good thing?
Career
The same can be said about the proverbial rat race. I need to make more money. I need to upgrade my title. I need the corner office. Setting goals and climbing the corporate ladder or expanding your business is terrific and I encourage everyone to do so, but if taken too far, you will be blinded and miss the memorable stops along the way.
Debt
A few of my fellow bloggers are battling a mountain of debt. But if your entire existence now is to shovel money into this gaping hole, you might not fully appreciate all that life has to offer. This is not a reason to go crazy, splurge, and add to your debt. Just remember to not let your debt define you.
Final Thoughts
To clarify, this is not a reason to be lazy and undisciplined. This is just a reminder to remember to enjoy the process, celebrate your minor victories, while also shooting for your dream. In my mind, this is the ideal happy medium. You will enjoy smelling the roses along the way and because you won’t be as burned out on your journey, your destination should be that much easier to achieve.
What’s the point of goals if you don’t enjoy them and are too busy chasing the next one?
Stay Inspired!
Buck
P.S. This song is hideous, but it shows why John Lennon and Paul McCartney are the bigger Beatles.
I find the process of achieving one goal and getting to set another one invigorating, but I definitely take time to smell the roses while pursuing my goals. I know I’ll burn out and won’t reach my goal if I don’t. So if I don’t feel like blogging at all one day I don’t. If I’ve got frugal fatigue I incorporate a little splurge once in a blue moon. My SO and I are also really good at congratulating each other and emphasizing the importance of what the other has done which really helps. You almost get to celebrate twice as many successes 🙂
You got a great outlook. Hitting and making goals is invigorating. I like how you celebrate twice as many successes with your SO. Every personal finance blogger has to appreciate that. Two for one special!
Well said Buck! The journey is as important as the destination!
You hit it on the head MC!
You definitely need to enjoy what you are doing at each step of the way. It makes everything fulfilling!
Absolutely. You get to where you are going and then immediately start going again? What’s the point?
Part of achieving goals is that euphoric feeling you get by accomplishing the goal. Everyone may react differently, but celebrating is and should be part of it. I celebrated every success! If you do not replace the goal with another one, you will just tread water until you do.
That’s awesome KC! Sounds like you’re having a great journey. No regrets!
It’s just important to have balance in life. I think one of the reasons that many diets fail to work is that people try to cut something out of their life totally. That just doesn’t work. Same thing here. You just can’t focus on one thing to the exclusion of all others. It just doesn’t work.
Great point about dieting and cutting it out completely. No cold turkeys here!
Yep, the video is definitely something else! Crazy!!
You’re too kind, haha. I can’t get it out of my head!!!
Visually, I can’t get it out of my mind either!!
That is definitely one of those nutty early-MTV videos. One could imagine the film crew chortling and snorting as Ringo cavorts about.
I’m definitely not forgetting to stop and drink the beer along the way, I mean, smell the roses.
I also resolve to not use the word “definitely” twice in one comment….
That’s why you’re such a thoughtful writer!
Haha wonder how Ringo and Paul feel when they look at this masterpiece! Maybe delusions of grandeur here?
Buck, I wouldn’t still be blogging if it wasn’t fun. At times, I get stressed out because I can’t read as other blogs as I’d like but then I remember I’m on a journey not going to a set destination.
Yeah, it’s still pretty fun for me, Kay! I get stressed, too. So many great blogs, so little time. You’re totally right, let’s all enjoy our journeys!
“…stop to smell the roses” is one of my favorite phrases, especially because I literally love to stop and smell roses whenever I see them. Sometimes a beautiful rose may not smell much of anything, but I’ve never regretted stopping to check. When I do find a rose that has a sweet full fragrance, I usually stand there and savor it for a minute or two. Same goes with life. A lot gets missed if we just work, work, work and forget to look at what is happening around us.
And thanks for sharing that video, haha I couldn’t stop laughing!! 🙂 -Sydney
Hey Sydney, thanks for sharing! I imagined you smelling your roses. More people should practice this advice. I have to remember to smell some more myself. Glad you enjoyed the video. I’m sure millions of Beatles fans don’t. Haha!
I love the Beatles but couldn’t last more than 10 seconds on that video. It’s horrible! Ringo definitely stayed in the background for a reason.
It’s certainly important to enjoy the journey to our goals. Just jumping to goal to goal isn’t as rewarding as thinking about the ups and downs to get there!
I’m a glutton for punishment as I almost watched the whole thing. Research purposes. The lengths I go to for my readers. Haha. Yes, the video is horrible. I hope you’re enjoying your journey!