SMELL THE ROSES

No one says to wake up and touch, or see, or taste or hear the roses.  They say to wake up and smell the roses.  Because scent makes us feel like nothing else can.

There are two fragrances that always inspire me to not only recapture the greatest moments of my life, but also inspire me to live every day to the fullest.  I never again want to take anything for granted.  I get weak in the knees from the smell of fresh, clean laundry.  And the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread, sends me into a salivary tailspin. 

Today's post is dedicated to our sense of smell and how magnificent and all-encompassing it really is.  How it can shift us back to 'days of old', or magically propel us into a state of bliss and ecstasy, is beyond awesome.

And what about pheromones? 

Do you remember the last time you hugged someone who smelled SO GOOD, it sent your brain into a tizzy?  When I was a little girl and my father would come home from work every night, I'd hug him tightly and get a whiff of his cologne.  It was so comforting and I felt utterly safe.  And whenever he wears a specific fragrance, I'm sent right back to my childhood, in seconds.

Similarly, within the first few months of dating my husband, I really felt like I was home.  I can't put it into words, but I simply had this unmistakable sensation that came over me; one that I couldn't argue with.  I felt tranquil and cozy and I wanted to harness that feeling, forever.

Smell the roses.

If I could advise anyone in my circles to take more time to enjoy life and the tremendous gifts it offers and not work so damn hard, believe you me, I would.  But one of my gal pals from high school said it best this morning:  "People here are so sterile, it's all about work, work, work, pay your mortgage, buy a house, buy a car, sleep, and fill your time with mundane routines."  Wow.  Spot on.  We have become so conditioned to think that acquiring more 'stuff' translates to more happiness and success.  Dead wrong.

I cannot wait for the introduction of spring weather in Toronto because for me it signifies getting outside and exploring my city.  I make complete use my eyes, my ears, my nose, my mouth and my body to experience the goodness of the world around me.  The word boring has absolutely no place in my life.  And when I hear other people uttering the word, it makes me irate.

Hesitate no longer and heed my words:  Make every effort to step away from your laptops, cellphones, iPods, and video game consoles and get out there and use your nose.   Soak up every ounce of glory and amazement that you can.  Breathe in luxury. 

Because if you don't, you'll lie on your deathbed one day and experience major regret.  Make no mistake about that.  Starting today, build more playtime into your schedules and develop less of a 'nose to the grindstone' mentality, in your work routines.

DO NOT LET LIFE PASS YOU BY.