Taking time to smell the roses…

As the summer winds its way I am more able to wind down too. August has typically been the month I think of for me to relax. May, June and July are full of family events, and gardening work that typically fills my free time.

This morning as I wandered down the street I soaked up the sun, took in the sweet smelling morning air, marveled at the pretty wild flowers blooming on the side of the road. I took time to smell the beautiful star gazer lilies in my front yard that are in full bloom. Their color is stunning and their scent is heaven sent.

I love my yard in the spring with the color that arrives after the long drought of winter. I’ve come to appreciate those star gazers and the gifts they bring to my yard. They’ve added a flower to look forward to experiencing this time of the summer season. And, in my typical fashion I want to cling to them as I do my spring flowers and want for them not to fade away.

It has been some time since I’ve poked my nose into my favorite meditative helper books. I’ve taken myself back to them as well this August. “Nothing Special, Living Zen” by Charlotte Joko Beck is the one I am re-reading once again. Her wisdom is amazing.

The reality of life and pain is the focus in the beginning section of this work. Pain has been my teacher as Ms. Beck notes it being. I have the want for that life and pain reality to not be a reality too. Not accepting pain has only created more struggles in my life not only for me but for those around me as well.

I can live life inside my head so easily making up scenarios and outcomes, wishing and wanting for control and, as Ms. Beck indicates, trying to avoid the pain that is just a factual part of life itself.

I know I need down times in my life. These are not simply the August months of my life when I can sit and read and rest but the emotional down times too that allow me to more openly see and experience the pain that life brings and allow for it to reveal life lessons that I so badly need to learn. A big part of which is simply the acceptance of life pain itself! Those roses after all do have a thorny side too!

What do you need to “take time to smell the roses” about in your life?