Response to 'Stop and Smell the Flowers' Email Sent to Me By My Supervisor ...

It seems a daunting task to 'stop' and do anything for most 'Americans', even if it is to smell flowers or whatever else; as if the world might spin off of its course or something. Coinciding, the idea that someone truly believes that without their personal and continual efforts, others (family, friends, etc.) would lose their ability to function and breathe. To release ... to 'stop and smell the flowers' is a difficult exercise for the hard-working, driven 'American'. For too many people, it is an additional effort in itself, like going to the gym, practicing Yoga, going to a shrink, Tai Chi, or whatever else that would be of healthy benefit. It does not come naturally. Some people seem to even scorn at the idea (stopping to smell the flowers) as something indulgent or frivolous.

Unfortunately, what is natural for the American is the drive to meet the goals set down by the employers ... the workplace that is inhabited by workers for more hours in the day than time spent in the homes they strive to pay for; more hours in the office spent balancing the books than interacting with offspring and family. We are dedicated and 'driven' to succeed within the parameters set forth by the boss. This dedication seems to challenge the ideal message to 'stop and smell the flowers.' Things get twisted because it is, supposedly, for the beloved family that this work is done - providing security, good health coverage, and so on ... all the while, children grow up and milestones pass before the realization and exclamation is uttered 'lordy, lordy, I'm waaaaay past forty'. And how well do some of us really know our children (a favorite color, game, book; that tap-dancing enables great joy, and squishing things under a glass slide for investigation under a microscope is intriguing beyond all comprehension; spending a little time acknowledging feelings of fear or insecurity for whatever reasons, obvious or not), or know our own siblings well enough to say where they even live? How many of us leave our elderly behind in America, enduring varying degrees of regret and guilt all the while because we have (chosen to have / or landed in a place because of choices made) so much on our plates ... our turn is coming and we're stupid to think its not. My hope is not to become a miserable, bitter, killjoy of a curmudgeon in my old age so as to get adequate care at 'the home' ... great-grandma Jane gave me some good advice - - - that it takes a great deal of practice to present one's self in a positive light. You just gotta smile, smile, smile, no matter the condition of your world ... another task (practice) to take on ... I digress.

'STOP AND SMELL THE FLOWERS'

It has to become a practice in each moment throughout the day (imagining 'flowers' everywhere, in every situation - full spectrum, from gentle to confrontational, imagining 'flowers' in every moment / 'Flowers' to be defined as the 'good' by each individual). The tragedy is that so many folks don't get it (they're exhausted and can't seem to pull away to see the benefit - a messed up delusion) and its almost as though a person would have to become a practitioner, monk, member, of the 'STOP AND SMELL THE FLOWERS' club, group, religion, cult, or whatever label might fall upon the effort.

Aafter all this time (16 years of employment at the same company), you just gotta know that I stop and smell the flowers ... it may seem excessive at times to the ordinary observer (whatever ordinary is) ... but, considering everything, it is not excessive at all. To each his own drummer ... so long as the work is done (the goals are met), one keeps up their efforts towards walking on water, and their tap dancing techniques are never neglected. See? Flowers!

It's all so much more complex than I could ever articulate ... but, obviously I was moved to make an attempt ...

If I ever stopped 'smelling the flowers', I'd probably fall down and die.

Yours truly,

Me

PostSecret.com

A Maryland man is encouraging strangers to send him postcards containing messages of their deepest secrets.

One example: "I tell people I'm an atheist, but I believe I'm going to hell."

Frank Warren, whose site is called PostSecret.com, talks to Michele Norris about some of the more than 100 messages he's received in his mailbox.

Warren, who started the project as part of his interest in interactive art, says he doesn't know what to expect each day when he checks his mail.

"What's come in has varied broadly," Warren says. "It touches on all emotions. Some are funny, some are tragic, some are shocking, some are gross."

Warren says he's sure that many of the messages aren't true, but it's impossible to know which ones are fake.

Again, www.postsecret.com. Interesting experience. Intriguing experiment. Highly recommend investigating this website ... strongly recommend participating ... :) ...