too much to do - too little time...

Living in central Utah has great advantages. One of them is the beauty of the mountains all around us.
Often, too often, I go about my day and don't pay them much attention. I guess it's the routine which catches up with each and every one of us, who has a busy day.

Usually, I'm trying to keep a special place in my mind and my heart for people who deserve to be there: a deployed soldier which is a friend of mine, a sick child in the family, someone who did something nice for a stranger.
But I still get in trouble from time to time by putting pressure upon myself, feeling the need to do it all.

One of my priorities right now, is to train for an upcoming triathlon. And just yesterday I went up a near by canyon, to do my running exercises in higher altitude. I took my dog, kissed my husband and off I went already thinking about the rest of the day and the chores I needed to do before this day completed itself.

With music drumming in my ears from my iPod, I chose a dirt single track I haven't ran before. It took me up and down the mountain side through a meadow and thick trees. After several miles, I came to a clearing which looked like something out of a movie scene.
Next to the trail grew a wild rose brush with beautiful blossoms in rich pink. They looked like as if someone had painted them in vibrant colors right before my eyes; it was breath taking!
The heck with my running routine, something inside me said and I bent down to smell the roses. They were so fragrant and sweet, I don't have words to do them justice.

And before I could even think about it, I unplugged the ear phones and found an old tree stump to sit on. For the next half hour I let myself be me, admiring nature and her uncounted treasures.

Yeah, maybe I ran less than what my training schedule suggested, but who cares? The inner peace I found up there in the mountain was more invigorating and satisfying than any exercise or completed chore could ever give me.

Therefore, I encourage you: Stop!!! - and smell the roses!