Friday, April 2, 2010

TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES

I did not write this it was an email I received.

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said , "How about going to lunch in a half hour?" She would gas up and stammer, "I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain" And my personal favorite: "It's Monday." She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because people cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches.. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I'm going to," "I plan on," and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'"

When anyone calls my "seize the moment" friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-Decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to...not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I sent this to you.

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, "We'll do it tomorrow." And in your haste, not see their sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say "Hi"?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.... Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

Life may not be the party we hoped for... But while we are here we might as well dance!

Want to join me?
(I don't want to throw away the gifts that God has given to me.)


14 comments:

xinex said...

I try to, Debby. Every moment. Great post!....Christine

Ginny Marie said...

A wonderful message, Debby! Thanks for passing it along!

Liz Mays said...

I've had that thawed thing happen too. But, I'll always jump on the going out to eat, so I'll just throw the thawed food in the fridge and go!

I hate being overscheduled. I say no to anything that requires me to do something over and over at the same time.

purejoy said...

very sage advice. and even if i'm not on a cruise ship, i order dessert first.
y'never know, y'know.

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Beautiful thoughts Debby. It's all so true.
What I can't believe is that you've gone for 10 years without ice cream.
Mercy!
What will power....and how sad!
I'm glad you had a triple decker.

Have a great Easter weekend.

BALLET NEWS said...

Just wonderful ! Happy Easter to you. And I definately need a blog button...... love yours !!!

Together We Save said...

Great post!! Happy East to you and your family. Love your new button!!

countrynmore said...

Your post makes one think. We need to stop and enjoy life and those around us. I am so glad that I have the chance to stay home with our two sons. Although they are both grown and have their own agendas, we enjoy the time when things are at a slower pace.

Amy said...

I brought 13 chocolate Peeps today because I could. I did not eat them all either but I did it.. I loved this post. I hope you get an ice cream..

Valerie @ Inner Child Fun said...

Great reminder! Now if you'll excuse me... I'm off to eat some ice cream. Yum!

Kerri said...

aww sweet :) i love it
im going to visit my gma (2 hours away) tomorrow and this was a nice reminder that i should do it more often shes only 82 ;)

thanks for posting this

Tonja said...

Great message, Debby! So true!

Have a Happy Easter!

Kristie said...

Thank you for sharing that-it was a good reminder!

Caroline said...

Thanx for sharing it is all so true !!
Caroline

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