Once again I have decided to stop, (or at least slow down), and smell the roses. Before you roll yours eyes let me share this. I read an article a few months ago that had a profound impact on me. This article shared observations of a nurse who had cared for dying patients on their deathbed. She documented their regrets as they reflected upon their lives and their impending demise.
Did
these people express their disappointment over not putting in more
hours at work? Did they lament over work-related e-mails they wished
they had answered or express remorse over business meetings they
missed attending?
No.
In fact, she found the opposite. The No.2 most common regret
expressed to the nurse -- and the number one regret of men under her
care -- was: "I wish I hadn't worked so hard." As the nurse
noted, "This came from every male patient that I nursed. They
missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship."
The
nurse also shared the other common regrets articulated by her
patients, such as their disappointment in not pursing their dreams,
failing to have the courage to express their true feelings and not
allowing themselves to be happy.
Look,
I realize that it's probably impossible for many of us to “stop and
smell the roses'' but I do believe it is possible to slow down and
sniff a rose or two. I have started to carve out moments from my work
day to relax, take a walk, mediate, and enjoy my life. I suggest you
do the same. Schedule some time on the calender daily to do that or
something you love.
There's a 2012
study,
which examined the actual benefits of "stopping to smell the
roses," it found that people who appreciated the blessings in their
lives tended to be happier. Thus, appreciating the "roses"
in your life -- be they relationships, family, or even the beauty of
nature -- will likely lift your spirits and increase your happiness.
I
have made my decision, what is yours?
1 comment:
I heartily endorse your thinking on this, Phil. I told my brother the same story some years ago, when his daughter was nine. She's in her twenties now. He's never regretted slowing down and enjoying her childhood and his younger days with her. Peace and continued good things for you and your family.
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