Life is a Bed of Roses

Life.  It's a bed of roses...except when it isn't.  We take the soft, fragrant blossoms along with the thorns.  That's life.  Unpredictable and ever changing, with the seasons, with the years.  For all our planning, decision making, and focus, life has a way of surprising - even shocking us.  Sometimes, we get hurt, and bleed - those damn thorns!

Roses are part of the milestones of our lives.  They're in every conceivable bouquet from the welcoming of the birth of a baby, to moving into a new home, graduating from high school, or university, celebrating an engagement, wedding, new job, new business, or retirement. They offer encouragement to someone fighting illness, or gentle consolation to those mourning a death.

With my birthday approaching, I'm getting philosophical (although Scorpios are born with a degree in Philosophy).  If there's wisdom gained in aging, it's in a renewed appreciation for life.  Live life!  Enjoy the small moments every day.  No matter what is going on with you, take time to smell the roses!

Taking time each day to detach myself from any stress, any responsibility, any thorn in my side, and enjoy life's simple pleasures, has helped to get me through difficult times, or just the mundane everyday blahs.  I practice Mindful Meditation, laugh with friends on Facebook, share meals with the wonderful people I live with, meet friends for coffee, go for a walk with my camera, bake, bike six miles on a stationary bike, watch a movie.  The problems don't go away, however, they're so much easier to deal with when I am calm, centred and joyful.

I'm working right now...and enjoying listening to a Paris-based Australian on-line radio station, Kitten D'Amour, while talking with you.  Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra and French techno-pop artists have been hanging out at my computer, while I type, and sip dark roast coffee.  We're having a party!

Even when I do housework, I've got Motown, or Stevie Ray Vaughan turned up loud enough to hear the music in the other rooms of my home.  There's nothing like dancing to the Blues to chase the blues away!

Maybe you can't dance everywhere...well, you can still tap your feet, under your desk.  You can still snap your fingers in time to the muzak playing at the grocery store.  Choosing tomatoes takes on a cool sophistication when you snap your fingers to a the jazz, or 60's rock that fills the store.

While you're at the grocery store, pick up a bouquet of roses!

 It's Sunday night...a new work week is about to begin.  Take time this week, to smell the roses!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated