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Stop And Smell The Roses

I don’t know if it’s me at that stage in life called reflection or being alone has me thinking about so called simpler times in the past.

I’m a family man, devoted to seeing my wife and children get all they need and a little of what they want.

As I replay my goals for Internet marketing and what I want to achieve it all keeps coming back to time.

I’m 48 years old and have lived, well ever since my first born arrived with a got to work to take care of my family attitude, fix the cars attitude, fix the house attitude, just fix every damn thing attitude.

Now I sit here alone…

Our house is a home. Not fancy, but a real touching stone for our kids and us also. It is alive and happy; breathing hope, resilience, expectations, safety and a whole lot of attitude from out teenagers.

Right now, they’re all on their way to Florida for spring break and once again I stayed back.

I seriously have not one good reason for not going!

I just think for so long it was all I new to take care of these guys that I just now realized, I”VE GOT THE TIME to go; but didn’t? This time work could have waited.

Times were simpler for me when I was younger, all I did was work, play and worry. I never gave serious thought to when I was 28 and a new dad what life would be like at 48?

Man, I’ve got it all and I don’t mean money that’s for sure.

One thing I don’t have enough of is “Stop and smell the roses” in my life.

I have been so busy keeping my foot on the peddle that there are no more throwing the kids in the back seat, grabbing a bucket of chicken or making sandwiches and going two-tracking in the woods.

I am slowly learning to appreciate life. I had few examples as a child to learn this as my father was a business man who put the dollar before his own family and still does and my mom was just, mom. She tried.

I can’t imagine not seeing my grand kids unless I physically couldn’t, what could be more important?

As I continue life, I want to be successful in all walks of life, not just money.

Yesterday I had a chance to stop and smell the roses and it passed me by, just like countless times before. But really it’s not the same because in the past when the kids were little Sue didn’t work and it was all on me.

Well, for sure I still have some learning to do and priorities to rearrange, maybe this is a start because this one hurts – I should be with those guys!

What I’ve learned about me:

- I still talk more than do with my family, even after I said it would be different.
- I am now recognizing this flaw (A little to late in this case) and am trying to stop.
- It’s not to late to change and I must take action.

So, if you are motivated by your future and the Internet, make your priorities the ones you will do over the exact same way 20 years from now and start by taking time to smell the roses.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 26th, 2010 at 2:52 pm and is filed under Light Bulb Moment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

15 Responses to “Stop And Smell The Roses”

  1. Hi Alan

    I love what you say here, very heart-warming. It’s true that there are much more to life than just working hard to pay the bills. And it doesn’t matter how old you are to start thinking hard about what you want to achieve in your life. Age is never a deterrent! The important thing is to take action and persevere. All the best and hope to hear of your success story soon.

    Vivien

  2. Hi Alan,

    Now that’s an article I can equate with. In my younger days I worked 7 days a week 12 hours a day, sometimes more. Yes I made a lot of money but hardly saw my kids – which is something I everlastingly regret.

    I am now making up for it with my grandchildren but you can’t alter the past, you have to grab while you can.

    Leisure time with family and friends is so important and although we all need money it should come second place in our priorities.

    Regards,

    Bill

  3. Hello Allan

    I can relate to this so much as this is an area in my life I have always struggled with. It’s just so easy to get caught up in ‘fast wheels’ of life, that sometimes it’s hard to stop, relax, and enjoy life and the things you work so hard for.

    One thing I have learned is that is it always about having a ‘balance’.

    This post has reminded me of the importance of stopping and smelling the roses. Thanks for the great post!

    Kind regards
    Anita

  4. Hi Alan :

    Thank you for sharing such great post ! Beside money..what can we give to our family??? Time,Love etc..

    Masterclass programs down the road will be soooo much for us to keep us Busy..

    Have a balance lifestyle ! Cheers :)

    Emily Lye

  5. Hi Alan
    Thank you for a nice post. It reminds me that I have to stop and smell the roses. Life is so quick… Sometimes I even do not have time to call the friend. It should not be like that.
    By the way thank you very much for visiting my blog.
    Regards,
    Irina Overy

  6. Hey Alan

    Just had a reality check. Man, you are a great writer and very real and expressive. You will make a great copywriter.

    I have a two year old, and have been so busy of lately, that most often than not when she wants to play “I tell her, not now darling, Daddy is busy”. It so happens we had a day in the museum today and she totally loved it and it did give me great joy.

    Now reading your post is kinda telling me, stop and smell the roses more often and be more present for the little one, and not lose sight of what really matters in life, because life is a gift.

    But what make reading your post more poignant, is that after the museum, I went to a restaurant where I once worked when I was 19, and got talking to one of the waiters, when I asked where Jose, the chef was? A gentle soul. He told me that he had retired but unfortunately passed away two years later. This guy, worked most his life and when maybe he had the chance to smell the roses his chance was brief. Made me think about my priorities.

    So after coming home and reading your post, it is like mother synchronicity is teaching me a lesson.

    Thanks for sharing Alan.

    All the best

    Cris

  7. Hi Alan,

    Great post! You’re focusing my man on what’s important in life. Sure, making money is great. But nothing comes before family, except for God.
    Thanks for the inspirational words.

    Best regards,
    George Nieves

  8. Hi Alan

    Great post and I agree. We should all stop and smell the roses or more importantly, smell life. Life is over so quickly, how do we know when our life will be taken from us? We should all live for each day because we never know if we are going to have a tomorrow.

    Just a couple of hours ago my eleven year old daughter asked her father if they could go to the library. His reply was, sorry I have to clean the pool and then I have to do some gardening and then….. That’s when I stepped in and told him that he should enjoy his daughters company now because in a few years time she won’t want to be seen with her father. Stop and enjoy your family and your life while you have them.

    Take care.

    Robyn

    P.S. They went to library!

  9. Hi Alan: You are a family man first. But you mention that you get a young woman to do your article writing. Do you mind if I ask how you choose your subjects? Do you do it with key words? Thanks, Betty

  10. Hi Betty,

    I’m not for sure if I understand your question but I think so.

    All my articles have the main keyword in them. Lets say it’s a 400 word article, I make sure my keyword is in that article 3 times minimum and no more than 4 times maximum, just what I do as I still believe Google looks for keyword spamming.

    My title 100% of the time has my main keyword in it. So if my article is about cleaning pet rocks and my main keyword is ocean pet rocks, my title might be “5 Cheap Ways To Safely Clean Ocean Pet Rocks” or “How To Safely Clean Ocean Pet Rocks”.

    I tell my writer:

    – Here is the title
    – Here is the main keyword
    – Put keyword in article once for every 125 words
    – Minimum article length XXX words

    Hope that helps Betty. Thanks for the reply,

    Alan

  11. Hi Alan that is a wonderful post which I fully identify with!, but I must take issue with what you regard as your ‘flaw’… we may not be able to change the past but we damn well can stop history from repeating itself!, so because you have identified what was lacking before you can now ‘change course’ to take in more of those wonderful roses, all it takes is those first few hesitant steps… and with each step you should find it gradually gets easier.

    …So start taking those steps… TODAY!, don’t put it off, don’t procrastinate any longer…you can do it, but only if you REALLY want to…

    You have received some excellent comments here Alan, and it is clear you have touched people, now that’s something to think…and feel good about…

    Thank you for sharing this wonderful post with us
    Kindest regards
    Pete

  12. Hey Alan,

    Excellent post, mister. I identify and agree. I taught my grown children how live without me as I gave my life to business. Now they act as if I don’t exist. They were very good students…

    As for your writing – do I understand you correctly that you have used a copywriter or are those guidelines for keywords, etc for yourself?

    I’m so glad you are a part of this class, I look forward to learning and growing with you.

    Have a grand day, Alan.

    Barry

  13. Well, hopefully you can change their attitude Barry, is it ever to late to try?

    I set the keywords and guidelines and pass them onto a writer.

    Barry, thanks for your kind words and I to look forward to learning and growing.

    Have a great day,

    Alan

  14. Hi Alan,

    Great post! You’re focusing my man on what’s important in life. Sure, making money is great. But nothing comes before family, except for God.
    Thanks for the inspirational words.

    Best regards,
    George Nieves

  15. Hey Alan

    Just had a reality check. Man, you are a great writer and very real and expressive. You will make a great copywriter.

    I have a two year old, and have been so busy of lately, that most often than not when she wants to play “I tell her, not now darling, Daddy is busy”. It so happens we had a day in the museum today and she totally loved it and it did give me great joy.

    Now reading your post is kinda telling me, stop and smell the roses more often and be more present for the little one, and not lose sight of what really matters in life, because life is a gift.

    But what make reading your post more poignant, is that after the museum, I went to a restaurant where I once worked when I was 19, and got talking to one of the waiters, when I asked where Jose, the chef was? A gentle soul. He told me that he had retired but unfortunately passed away two years later. This guy, worked most his life and when maybe he had the chance to smell the roses his chance was brief. Made me think about my priorities.

    So after coming home and reading your post, it is like mother synchronicity is teaching me a lesson.

    Thanks for sharing Alan.

    All the best

    Cris

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