Almost everyone would have heard the saying, “take time to smell the roses”. I’ve heard it on many occasions during my time in employment. They were said to me either in my pursuit of personal career goals or at company management meetings.
Often the idiom “take time to smell the roses” would be uttered by a sanguine personality team member on a project during an update meeting. They are usually the sociable, playful, and carefree temperament type in a team. Like at the final stages of a major project, after all the hard work and heavy lifting have been performed, and before the project team moves on to the next or final milestone in the program, the sanguine will suggest, “Why don’t we just stop for a moment and take time to smell the roses?” Almost in all cases, everyone will agree, because most can see the value of the action.
[Photo credit: Maria Ngo]
“Stop and smell the roses” is an idiom that means to relax; to take time out of one’s busy schedule to enjoy or appreciate the beauty of life. Whether you think of “stopping to smell the roses” as a metaphor, or an actual act of admiring roses, the benefit is the same. Slow down and appreciate the world surrounding you is the message. Of course, it’s not only ‘the roses’ we are referring to in this metaphor, but also the ‘all-you-have-done’ hard work either in building a gazebo, landscaping a garden, worked with a partner to develop a marketing strategy, showing the first profit result in a startup's P&L Statement, graduated from a course or even winning a championship. As a matter of fact, the hard work could also relate to the various stages of raising a family, building a household, and seeing a child grow into adulthood.
In my research, I found that while the origins of the phrase were not clear, it had been often attributed to golfer Walter Hagen (1892-1969). In the 1956 book ‘The Walter Hagen Story’, he was quoted as saying “You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.” Although the book did not recount that he specifically mentioned roses, I think we get the intent.
Azaleas at The Flora At Augusta National Golf Club [Photo credit: cutewallpaper.org. No copyright infringement in intended]
With a tally of 11 professional majors, Hagen being third behind Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods on the ranking board, would have walked along many fairways and many times back to the clubhouse where flowers would have been abound. The one that stands out and likely where Hagen would have played and made the comment, was The Flora At Augusta National Golf Club, after it became home of the Masters in the mid-1930’s. The spectacle of having a huge display of azaleas adorning the course is world renown. Interestingly Hagen did not win a Masters tournament at Augusta.
Like the scene of walking past hedges of azaleas, a close friend recounted a time during Spring when he and his wife were walking down Princes Street, in Edinburgh, Scotland with upmarket retail stores on one side and gardens on the other side, leading up to Edinburgh Castle. He described it as one of the most breathtaking views of any major city in the world and more so because of the scented roses in the gardens along the road. That would have been truly a place worth stopping at, to smell the roses. While every day residents are likely to simply brush by without giving the roses a second glance, how as tourists we often will stop to admire such things. What ’locals’ take for granted, I’m sure you have seen it in your cities, of tourists stopping and taking photos of landscapes, buildings, monuments and bridges. Some will even stop to read the plaques place on them.
The Country & Western singer Mac Davis also wrote a song with reference to smelling the roses. The title aptly entitled ‘Stop and Smell the Roses’ was released in 1974. The lyrics included the words:
“Hey Mister
Where you’re going in such a hurry
Don’t you think it’s time you realized?
There’s a whole lot more to life than work and worry
The sweetest things in life are free
And there right before your eyes
You got to stop and smell the roses
You’ve got to count your many blessings everyday
You’re gonna find your way to heaven is a rough and rocky road
If you don’t stop and smell the roses along the way”
The expression “stop and smell the roses” is not just about flowers or nature but is an encouragement for all of us to be mindful of our surroundings, and those we care for, including ourselves.
Even with time saving devices, we seem to have less time to stop and appreciate the things we once held dear. I sometimes wonder whether the idea of ‘flexible working’ hours will help us to “stop and smell the roses”. While I applaud the concept of flexible hours, I suspect not! If we do not appreciate its intent, I believe the idea of flexible working will simply mean that work, which would have normally been covered in a 9-to-5 working day across a 5-day-week, will be spread across a 24x7 working week.
Some questions to ponder on. Where now is the rest day if work is spread across 24x7? Where can we find time for recreational activities in between the flexible hours of working? Could we end up having to schedule our time with the family? Will picnics or BBQs no longer be spontaneous decisions to make as once before? Will our leisurely drives through the countryside or beach have to be cut short because we can only afford to spare a couple of hours before a scheduled conference call becomes due?
The days of doing the things we enjoy without monitoring the number of email pings we are getting, or that important missed work-related phone call that has to be returned, or that Friday assignment due Monday, are getting more challenging to find.
I believe however that the first thing that needs to happen is for us to STOP! If we find ourselves on the treadmill of life, we need to seize the power within us to STOP! It is only when we do that, can we ‘surface to the top’, ‘take a breath’, ‘check our pulse’, ‘look up and reset our priorities’, before the things of this world consume us.
It is only when we STOP, can we take the next step of figuratively SMELLING ‘the roses’. Like my friend who stopped and took time to smell what he later described as the most amazing scented roses, while walking with his wife in Edinburgh. There is much to learn from this idiom “take time to smell the roses”.
Remember to take time for yourself and live life with deeper gratefulness for what is around. There is much to notice. Why not be like a tourist in your city, neighbourhood, street or even your backyard and admire the beauty of life.
[Photo credit: Steven Pereira]
In nature, sit on the grass and watch the ants marching off to their nest, or bees flying from one flower to another pollinating them as they go. Look up when you walk past a tree, and see its branches spread like an umbrella. Look for a nest that may be hidden in its branches. As you gaze the skyline, watch the clouds dance in the wind, forming shapes that only you can imagine.
“Stop and smell the roses” in your families too. Take notice of the little but significant milestones, like when a baby giggles at every contorted face a parent makes. Though it might be insignificant to you, show that you noticed when your partner has had a haircut and a colour rinse. Comment on the smell of the muffins baking in the oven.
I remember my two children, around one and four years of age, when they would run to me and grab each of my legs when I arrived home. I would walk further into the house with them still clinging on to my legs. When a child starts their driving lessons remember those moments, and stop to notice the excitement on their face when they return home having achieved their Probationary Driver License. Treasure the “scent” of the occasion.
[Photo credit: Media from Wix]
For me, that’s what ‘smelling the roses’ is all about.
This essay is a reminder for us to slow down and take notice of the world around us, and to be present in every moment. It means consciously directing our mind to be aware and attentive wherever that might be. We must be able to experience, appreciate and enjoy more of our surroundings. In so doing, this gives us a sense of well-being, happiness, a sense of elevation, and level of connectedness to people, our friends and family.
While the expression refers to roses, it can be anything small or even commonplace. It’s about the creation of life in our world, large or small, significant, or not that gives us great joy and makes us human.
My two children, when they were younger enjoying time at the beach. [Photo credit: Steven Pereira]
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