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Stop and Smell the Roses

Stop and Smell the Roses

Feb 25, 2011 11:36:03 AM

I was talking to someone the other day who said, “remember how when you’re on an airplane they always say ‘in the event of an emergency, secure your own oxygen mask first before helping others’?” What a great reminder to all of us that if we don’t stop and take care of ourselves first, there isn’t as much available to give to others.

It has gotten very busy again at work, and that’s a really good thing!  What I notice though, is that I have been using that as an excuse not to “stop and smell the roses.”  Yesterday, as I was e-mailing back and forth with my accountant he said, “I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather!”  I stopped and looked outside, and realized I didn’t even know it was what he referred to as a “false Spring.”  I made a mental note to get out and take a walk, but truth-be-told here I sit in my office still mostly oblivious to the world that is happening right outside my door.

Another example, today when I got on a call with a government client he was telling me about being in emergency mode, and that non-essential employees may have to go on furlough if the budget isn’t passed by March 4th.  Where have I been?  I was embarrassed to say, in the dark, “I haven’t stopped to read the paper or watch the news in a couple of weeks!”  I have heard about the unrest in the Middle East and the challenges that Wisconsin is facing…but only through random comments.  I am in jeopardy of becoming disconnected to the bigger picture!  Whoa…stop the bus…it is time to hold myself accountable…for me!

What makes me especially disappointed in myself is that I counsel my clients to stay balanced and find ways to decompress, and here I am falling in to the same trap of not making time to reenergize myself.  I know that there are situations that come up when we have to push hard, reprioritize to meet a deadline, put fun and frivolous activities on the back-burner.  I’m all over knowing when to stay disciplined and delay gratification; trust me I do that really well!  But a steady diet makes Deb tired, dull, and uninformed!

So, if you are feeling disconnected from family, friends, hobbies, the world at large, consider that it may be time to come up for air, before you deplete yourself and negatively impact all the good you have to offer others!

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Deb Siverson

Deb Siverson is the owner and founder of Xponents. She completed her Masters in Organizational Leadership from University of Colorado-Boulder. Deb is the author of the book, "The Cycle of Transformation: igniting organizational change through the leader coach."

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