There are two versions of this article. The original version is below. The adapted version explains some of the expressions and phrases (helpful for non-native English speakers).

I love to go running on trails where I live, although it’s not easy to find places that aren’t covered in snow or ice during the winter and early springtime. Most of my favorite trails aren’t in good enough condition to run yet, but each day the level of the snow recedes a little bit more. Luckily, I found a fantastic new loop to run.

The first part is mostly on concrete, which is my least favorite place to run, but I guess I shouldn’t complain. Within 5 minutes, I’m running on trails and I’m happy again. This particular trail is great because it traverses the mountain and it’s just above the town where I live. It isn’t a very big loop and it doesn’t have a lot of elevation change, so it’s perfect for getting in some extra miles without pushing my body too much.

When I got onto this new trail, I did a little happy dance because I saw there were flowers starting to bloom. Of course, I had to stop and take some photos because in addition to my addiction to trail running, I’m also addicted to taking photos. Look at them! Aren’t they adorable?

I’m sure I’ve earned the reputation as the “crazy runner” because I could be running full speed and then something, (maybe a flower, maybe a rock formation) would catch my eye and I have to come to a complete stop, turn around and have a little photoshoot.

Obviously I’m not training to stand on a podium. I don’t run to win competitions, I run to have peace. Some days it takes longer than others! But, I’m okay with that.

My second big find was a climbing area. No, I’m not kidding! I’ve never seen such a small climbing area in my life! I didn’t stay very long to look at the routes, but one thing is for sure… If you decide to do some sport climbing here, you won’t be bothered by anyone!

Then I came across some more flowers! They weren’t the same kind, but they were purple, too. Could they be violets? I have no idea. I’m guilty of taking hundreds of photos of flowers and never learning what they’re called. Alas, no one is perfect!

I may not be the fastest runner, and I may not be a good runner, but in English, there is an idiom “stop and smell the roses”. Does it mean that we should actually stop every time we see a rose and smell it? No.

It means that we get really busy in life and sometimes we just need to stop a moment and “be” in the present, appreciate what is around us, and enjoy the little things in life. I’m guilty of running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to meet deadlines, but when it comes to running, time stands still.

This is my time to unplug and forget about the stress of the day. I notice new flowers that are blooming each week. I notice the squirrels climbing the trees. I listen to the birds that are chirping as they fly past me. I listen to the water running over the rocks in the creek and after an hour in the mountains, I’m refreshed and ready to continue my day.

Maybe you prefer going for a walk. Maybe you prefer going on a bike ride. We all have different ways to unplug and escape the stress of our everyday lives. When was the last time you got out to “stop and smell the roses?” What are you waiting for?

Adapted Version

Stop and Smell the Roses

In parenthesis () there are explanations of words and phrases. These explanations are in italics.

I love to go running on trails where I live, although (however) it’s not easy to find places that aren’t covered in snow or ice during the winter and early springtime. Most of my favorite trails aren’t in good enough condition to run yet, but each day the level of the snow recedes (decreases) a little bit more. Luckily, I found a fantastic new loop (route that makes a circle) to run.

The first part is mostly on concrete (road), which is my least favorite place to run, but I guess I shouldn’t complain (be negative). Within 5 minutes, I’m running on trails and I’m happy again. This particular trail is great because it traverses (goes along) the mountain and it’s just above the town where I live. It isn’t a very big loop and it doesn’t have a lot of elevation change (positive elevation), so it’s perfect for getting in some extra miles without pushing my body (hurting myself by exercising) too much.

When I got onto this new trail, I did a little happy dance because I saw there were flowers starting to bloom (flower). Of course, I had to stop and take some photos because in addition to my addiction to trail running, I’m also addicted to taking photos. Look at them! Aren’t they adorable (cute)?

I’m sure I’ve earned (was given) the reputation as the “crazy runner” because I could be running full speed (as fast as I can) and then something, (maybe a flower, maybe a rock formation) would catch my eye (get my attention) and I have to come to a complete stop, turn around and have a little photoshoot (take a lot of photos).

Obviously I’m not training to stand on a podium (win a competition). I don’t run to win competitions, I run to have peace (calm). Some days it takes longer (more time) than others! But, I’m okay with that.

My second big find (discovery) was a climbing area. No, I’m not kidding (joking)! I’ve never seen such a small climbing area in my life! I didn’t stay very long to look at the routes, but one thing is for sure (true)… If you decide to do some sport climbing here, you won’t be bothered (irritated) by anyone!

Then I came across (saw) some more flowers! They weren’t the same kind, but they were purple, too. Could they be violets? I have no idea. I’m guilty of taking hundreds of photos of flowers and never learning what they’re called (their name). Alas, no one is perfect!

I may not be the fastest runner, and I may not be a good runner, but in English, there is an idiom (words that mean something different when placed together) “stop and smell the roses”. Does it mean that we should actually stop every time we see a rose and smell it (use our nose to discover the odor)? No.

It means that we get really busy in life and sometimes we just need to stop a moment and “be” in the present, appreciate (be thankful) what is around us (what we have in our lives), and enjoy (appreciate) the little things in life (non-material things). I’m guilty of running around like a chicken with my head cut off (doing too many things at the same time) trying to meet deadlines (a time when a task must be completed), but when it comes to running (talking about running), time stands still (time stops).

This is my time to unplug (disconnect) and forget about the stress of the day. I notice new flowers that are blooming each week. I notice the squirrels (the furry animals that live in trees) climbing the trees. I listen to the birds that are chirping (the noise birds make) as they fly past me. I listen to the water running over the rocks in the creek (small river) and after an hour in the mountains, I’m refreshed (more relaxed) and ready to continue my day.

Maybe you prefer going for a walk. Maybe you prefer going on a bike ride. We all have different ways to unplug and escape the stress of our everyday lives. When was the last time you got out (left the house) to “stop and smell the roses?” What are you waiting for (why haven’t you)?

This blog was updated October 31, 2019 to include an audio version.