As I was rushing to fit in my morning exercise walk in between calls and meetings, as I was racing through my to-do list in my head, I stopped for a moment to realize that I was half way through my exercise routine and did not even notice the beautiful summer morning and many treasures of nature surrounding me. I found out how easy it is to be racing through life and, once again, miss the simple joys of life.
As I slowed down a little more to look at the beautiful plants and trees and take in the gentle warmth of the morning sun, I started to understand more and more the old cliché, "stop and smell the roses."
Yes, I did "stop to smell the roses." And what a refreshing difference it made for me. After a few minutes of being in the present and taking in the gracious beauty of my surroundings, I continued on my way with my morning exercise routine. I turned off my to-do list, my head became more clear with new thoughts and ideas. I began to breathe more freely and found that I was more energized, refreshed and refilled.
Little did I know that those few moments I took to slow down my daily routine would have such an amazing impact. I encourage all to slow down for a moment to "stop and smell the roses" and see what you can discover. 
