You’ve probably heard the saying, “stop and smell the roses“. It’s to help bring yourself to the present moment and enjoy the simple joys of life around you. While I always knew this to be true, I never truly felt the feeling — until I stopped and stared at the stars.
When’s the last time you stopped to look up at the night sky? Not just a passing glance, but a real pause. To admire it’s beautiful mystery and just be.
Last night, I found myself doing just that. I almost skipped my walk since my mom already walked my dog, but something pushed me to go anyways. I knew a walk would help calm my brain from the mindlessness of the repeated tasks of everyday life that sweep us into autopilot mode. Not because I had to or thought that I should, but because I wanted to. That simple shift – choosing out of love instead of the fear from “I should” – led me to a moment of pure stillness.
I found a new favorite spot. Away from the lights of the houses, but still light enough where I feel safe. It’s important that if you do this you feel safe in your surroundings. It’s hard for the body to fully relax when your body is on the lookout.
As I stood there, I looked up at the sky. I let my thoughts flow and pass through me, like cars on the highway. At first, it was mostly cloudy, but I could see a hint of darkness and sparkle peeking through to the west. I soon noticed that the clouds were actually moving – ever so slightly. This is something I would’ve never noticed if I was on a regular walk at night. I would just assume “well it’s cloudy, too bad I can’t see anything”. Something told me to wait as I continued to look up.
And so, I did.
For 10, maybe 15 minutes, I stood there watching the clouds drift by. Slowly I began seeing more sparkles peer through the clouds. More darkness as well. The mystical dark sky and one by one, the stars, revealed themselves. The clouds were drifting east. What had first looked like an overcast night was actually just a sky in transition. Had I not taken that moment, I never would’ve known the stars were right there, waiting to be seen. I really felt connected with the stars.
That moment taught me something I didn’t just know but truly felt. Life is full of hidden beauty, but we have to slow down to see it. It’s one thing to understand the phrase of “stop and smell the roses“, but it’s another to truly experience it.
For me, it’s stop and stare at the stars.
When I do this simple act, I feel connected to the earth, to the universe, to myself.
If you ever feel overwhelmed, lost, or disconnected, I encourage you to try this:
- Find a quiet and safe space outside at night. It doesn’t have to be anywhere special or super secluded – just somewhere with an open sky.
- Look up and breathe. My favorite way to deep breathe is to imagine my nostrils are on my heart, pulling air through my chest. Try it for yourself.
- Wait. Don’t rush the moment. The longer you stay here, the more you will notice.
The world moves fast, but true peace comes when you stop chasing it and just allow it to be. Sometimes, all it takes is simply stopping, staring at the stars, and letting them remind you everything is exactly as it’s supposed to be.
When’s the last time you looked up? Tonight is the perfect time to start. 🙂
