Itz Holistically Wholesome

We often hear the phrase “stop and smell the roses.” I’ve always wondered why roses specifically. Are they chosen because they’re popular? Or is the meaning deeper an invitation not to literally smell roses, but to slow down, notice beauty, and remember that God has been good?

Lately, I’ve been thinking that we shouldn’t just smell roses. We should smell all the flowers God has placed around us. Nature didn’t grow only one kind of beauty. It grew a wide variety of colors, shapes, and fragrances that decorate our world. And in summer, when everything is in full bloom, my plant-loving heart gets excited. I pause at every flower I see. I take pictures. I collect memories to revisit when winter comes and everything rests.

Those pictures bring me back to a place of beauty and purpose. They remind me that God thought of everything when He created this world, every petal, every color, every season.

When we take the time to appreciate the things around us, we invite gratitude and calmness into our lives. These two gifts are essential to wellness. Appreciation helps us shift our focus from what’s missing to what’s present. It anchors us in the moment. It reminds us that beauty is not accidental, it is intentional, purposeful, and lovingly crafted by God.

So today, don’t just smell the roses.
Smell the hydrangeas, the coneflowers, the lavender, the zinnias, all the flowers God placed in your path. Let their beauty slow you down. Let their colors remind you of joy. Let their fragrance bring you peace. And let their presence turn your heart toward gratitude.

Because wellness begins when we pause long enough to notice what God has already given.

Be well and be blessed.

With love and purpose,
Tomika Chance
Itz Holistically Wholesome