Stop and Smell the Roses, or Family, Friends, Pets and the Simple and Good

When people are overwhelmed with life’s stresses and struggle to make sure they do everything needed in their lives—life can suck. We have all been there and some may be there now. What to do? There are probably as many answers to that question as there are issues people deal with.

One viable action to try is that in the middle of the dust storm of stressors is to stop and smell something—like the roses, your family, friends, pets, or anything nice, simple and “good” in your life. When I suggest smelling something of course I am simply stealing from the old saying that we should “stop and smell the roses”, meaning to look at the nice things in life.

I think when we are overwhelmed we get lost in the stressors in our lives, lost from anything other than our problems. That is the time to completely stop and look at anything good, clean, calm and good in your life. Take a deep look at your child perhaps and their beauty or innocence. Alternatively, look at a pet that may give you a calm or innocent joy. Or perhaps, call or visit a friend who you can just reflect about nothing important, just shoot the crap about innocent simple things in life.

There’s not much we do in our day that cannot be put off for later—some things perhaps, but not everything. This is especially true if you are becoming overwhelmed to the point of living just for goals, accomplishments, and success. The fact of the mater is that there are not many things more important than the innocent joys of sharing love, joy, and innocence and feeling gratitude for the simple things in our lives. This is not to say that we should not strive and take care of business in our lives but it is to say that the more important things are the simple wholesome things. Ask older formerly successful people if they agree with me. You will find that most would, and many would tell you that they wish they would have “smelled” more along their way. We can still be successful and smell those roses.

When things are getting out of hand for you, stop and look at what you have to be grateful for in your life. If you do not have much, keep looking for things in your circle. If you really do not have much, reach out to a hospice center, or the elderly in need, somewhere where you can look in the eyes of a human being and feel the very real connection of human beings connecting and caring. There is nothing much better than that. It’s a human thing; it is a relaxing thing and a rejuvenating thing. Now, I think I’ll take my own advice and start smelling.