Stop...Look back...and Smell the Roses....

Have you ever stopped to smell the roses? ...or even acknowledged that they exist? For those who don't know, this famous phrase refers to taking the time to stop, reflect, and appreciate what is...whatever that may be. So many people work toward a goal, or work on themselves, and rarely do they take the moment to breathe in the success that they've achieved or turn around to see how far they have come. Why is it that we work so hard, but find it so difficult to acknowledge the fruits of our labor?

For over a year, I've been working out consistently. Growing up, I played every sport imaginable and was always in great shape. Over the years, I stopped playing all those sports and began to get comfortable. I decided that I needed to get back out there, become active again, and develop some life long healthy habits. Initially I started working out just to do it, but after my body started to reap the beautiful benefits, I developed goals. Week after week, month and month, I easily surpassed my old goals and replaced them fresher, more difficult ones. I'll admit it...I've always been a little obsessive when it came to my body type. It's just always been one of those things that I've constantly created newer goals for and was never satisfied with. Even with the obvious physical changes that I've made, never have I once took the time to turn around and applaud myself for my hard work, consistency, and discipline...until it was pushed in my face. Earlier this week, a friend of mine tagged me in an old picture from her sister's wedding from a year and a half ago. I was in shock as I gazed at my old self in the picture. I thought "who was this woman looking back at me?" I was obviously larger and when I really thought about it, I didn't even realize I looked that way at that moment in time. As I looked at the picture, I lifted my eyes to the reflection in the mirror of my current self. "Wow", I thought. I've really changed. I look healthier and shapelier. All those times that I overcame being tired, annoyed, and just flat out not feeling like it, paid off. For the first time, I stopped and commended myself for the obvious progress I've made. Within that moment, I decided to soak up every drop of content that I felt about where I am and where I came from.

No doubt about it, the last few weeks have been surprisingly trying. I say surprising because it's not as if I haven't had difficult times before, however, this time, the difficulty has affected me in a different way. Being whisked away from the path you are on and being pulled further away from where you want to go, presents a dilemma that begs you to rise above the occasion. Sometimes, however, the stress of that can take a toll. For some reason (God), I find myself careless laughing and proclaiming all great things. I find myself able to see that when things are shaken up in this way, it's all in preparation to get you on top of your game for the next phase in life. I think what made me feel so eerie in this "calm" is the fact that in other times of struggle and frustration, I wasn't this "cool". At an earlier point in life, I would have been exhibiting my frustration through cursing and long lasting anger. I would've allowed myself to stay in a mental space that would've watered the seeds of disdain and negativity. Today, however...with the mental strength and composure that I possess, I acknowledge the positive first, dance in the rain, and anticipate the sun knowing that everything will work out for the greater good. As I thought about this, there presented another opportunity for me to turn around, stop, and pat myself on the back. I have GROWN. I've developed myself into a woman who will take life by horns and enjoy the ride...bumps and all. I'm completely aware that life isn't perfect and am still human, so it's not always sunshine and roses, but your dominant outlook is most important...and mine has changed for the better.

In this life, I encourage you to not only work hard, but to acknowledge your hard work. Not only will it show you how far you've come, it will give you the ammunition to shoot yourself forward!