Stop and Smell the Roses

• By QEP Committee
• June 12, 2023
• Health

The rose is one of the most valued and beloved flowers. People often give roses to the people they deeply love or care about. The wonderful fragrance emitted by the rose inspired two well-known sayings: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” and “Be sure to stop and smell the roses.”

Although that second saying has been around a long time, what it encourages us to do has never been more important than it is today. We have so much going on and our lives have become so fast-paced, we sometimes overlook and miss out on the beautiful, amazing things that can be seen, heard, and experienced each day. We simply race past them on our way to whatever is next. Because we’re constantly on the go, and we don’t think to stop and smell the roses, we’re continually stressed and exhausted.  

The encouragement to stop and smell the roses is an invitation to practice gratitude. The “roses” in our lives are the many realities for which we can be thankful, blessings that we too often take for granted.  The benefits of practicing gratitude are numerous. Practicing gratitude lowers blood pressure, improves immune functioning, improves sleep, reduces inflammation in the body, and increases optimism and generosity.

So please remember to stop and smell the roses. You’ll be better off for doing so.