"Stop and Smell the Roses"

"Girl, there's a reason you're so stressed all the time, you need to learn how to "stop and smell the roses"."
I've heard forms of this many times and it usually doesn't help. Between anxiety, depression, health issues, and just life in general it's hard to catch a break.
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I believe in intentional living. I'm a dreamer: I dream about where I'll be in 5 years; I dreamed about writing and publishing a book, and then did it. I dream about traveling the world, after graduating from college.
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I also like to be organized and some might say I'm borderline OCD (or, as I like to say it, CDO). Years ago I started to realize that being hard on myself and setting unrealistic expectations only fed my anxiety and depression.
So, I made sure that every day I made time for just me.
I began to take time to "stop and smell the roses" as I sat out with the family dog on the porch, as I discovered that I could carry a tune and write a song.
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I recognized that downtime and hobbies are useful tools, to decompress, but also can be a key to finding one's true self.
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This past semester I was hustling: full-time school, 2 part-time jobs, preparing for a 2-week study abroad, marketing my recently published book, and making plans for the future. For me that busy lifestyle works, because I MAKE the time to sit back, relax, and breathe it all in.
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I do this so that I can have a healthy relationship with others, the great outdoors, and myself.
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How do YOU find "stop to smell the roses"?


Love,
D.J. Lathrop