Smell the roses my friends

[scottw]

Hey friends,
I had a few days this week to reflect on things that have gone both wrong and right in my life as well as spend time doing things that I always wanted to do but because I let life and superficial things get in the way, regrettably I never got around to. Things at work were going well and then took a turn for the worse when someone new who is best buddies with the CEO came into town. While I have a job, certain duties were taken from me by this individual resulting in my pay being reduced by close to $40,000 per year.
As a 33 year old single income earner with two kids, a wife at Harvard and a mortgage, this was not an easy pill to swallow. At first, I was positive but I let things stew to the point where I was becoming negative about everything going on around me, even the good things (After all, I have been blessed with good looks and a firm buttocks ). Anyway, by Monday this past week, I had enough. I had a meeting on Tuesday and decided that I would take off afterward and take me a mini vacation and do things to clear my head and "smell the roses" a bit. First, I stopped at Ashes in Red Bank and met some friends over scotch, RS 11's and some great conversation. I then went down the Jersey Shore to my folks house to see them, my 88 year old grandmother and my 2 year old son who was down there all week. Wednesday morning, my 60 year old father and I went down to the bay and sat and watched the boats float by. He had a CAO gold Corona and I a Zino Platinum Shorty. It was peaceful. We talked about life, my past, his past, etc. He talked to me about my grandparents who died when I was 11 months old and about when he met my mother. It was really cool. Shortly after, we were headed to Long Beach Island. We stopped for a beer and then hit the water and went parasailing. We went together 350 feet in the air, looking down at the seagulls. I never felt so at peace with everything despite the chaos occurring in the world below. It was a great time and something that neither one of us will forget anytime soon (pics will follow once I get them).
The next morning. I went to the bay with my mother and talked about when she was a kid and what it was like raising me and my twin brother. We went to the farmer's market and shopped and planned a dinner menu for me to cook the next night. It was the most time I spent with my mother alone in the last 3 years.
Today, we had lunch on the island, me, dad, mom, grandma and Scott Jr. 4 generations of my family sharing a meal together while watching the boats, the birds and the waves. I was humbled by the fact that there are so many who have to go without family, without food and without quality of life.
Tonight, I cooked a meal for everyone in the house and we ate and laughed and all the sh*t that occurred over the last few weeks seemed like a distant memory. Dad and I even got a chance to spark up a couple of Padron's afterward and have a glass of wine while checking out the full moon and the stars.
I know I don't post that much here except for comments on others posts or to make a remark about a recent stick but I wanted to share this with you all. It hit me that no matter what, things will happen and life will go on, the measure of a man is how he handles it. I felt like a kid again this week and am greatful to have family and friends around me who I love and respect.
Open your eyes and look around, the world is wonderful and as you go through life, please, PLEASE don't forget to stop once and a while to smell the roses..........................they smell really good.
Thanks for your time,
Scott

[teedles915]

All I can say is great post. I need to follow that advice myself. Thanks

[commonsenseman]

Great post Scott! It's amazing how fast life can fly by us isn't it. In the words of the incredibly wise Ferris Bueller "Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop & take a look around once in a while, you might miss it."

Great to hear you're doing ok even though it's been a tough time for ya!

[zeavran1]

Words to live by. Makes you wonder why we bitch and moan sometimes. Keep positive knowing that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Stay cool bro because better times are coming.

[Stench]

40K a year...ouch! Sounds like you have your head on straight and know what is most important!

In the past three weeks my son lost a best friend and teammate(died suddenly high school football field), his girlfriend moved away to college and we had to put his 14 year old lab to sleep. How do you tell a 17 year old young man this is not the end of the world...<sigh>

[Egis]

This is true scott, I had moments like that few times in my life too! But every day is a surprise!

[Cigary]

I read this with great interest, Scott. Too many times in life we handle situations with a rapid fire reaction without thinking things through and end up making a bigger mess of things. You handled things with an amazing grace and wisdom and found your salvation in those things that have more meaning in life. I have been thru similar situations in my career when I was working as well and went thru the job situation where I was "downsized" to half of what my regular paycheck was. My first instinct was to react with a " Give em Hell Harry" kind of response but didn't,,,thank God! I went home and got serious with my thoughts and planned my life around a reaction that would benefit me and my family and prioritized a plan of action. I took a transfer to another location and started at the bottom but worked my way up around new faces and made myself indespensible,,,6 months later I was not only happier but I was promoted with a salary that was double what I was making before I was downsized. The moral is,,,sometimes you have to " hit the wall " in order to see things clearly as to what your life is all about. You sound like you feel so much better about yourself and who you are,,,,that is the most important step in taking back the reins in your life. Money at times seems so important that you will be held captive by the allure of it's security,,,and when the money is taken away you feel as if your esteem has been shot down as well. Nothing could be further from the truth. More people have advanced themselves in life because of those times where they got slapped around,,,,and they made the necessary changes in their life and went on to become even better people and became more successful later than they ever thought possible. Positive thinking and action are two necessary ingredients in success. You have already shown most of it here,,,,you'll be fine because you have accepted things as a man,,and are willing to do the right things in life and you will be compensated for it in time I promise you.

[joncaputo]

Loved this post. Could of done without the buttocks part though.

[Rubix^3]

Fantastic post Scott. God Bless You and your family!

[Jack Straw]

Great post. I think my signature says something about "the faster you go, the more you see" right now (I'll find out when I click submit), which is a line from a favorite movie (The Castle, aussie flick). At the same time though, sometimes the slower you go, the more you appreciate.

[ssutton219]

Alot is happeneing all around the world and like the Allstate commercial has stated more people are taking a step back from spending and such to get back to whats important, Family.

I have my issues in life and every once in a while I do not see the point of going to work everyday to pay bills and nothing left, Till I walk in and my daughter runs up to me and tells me she missed me and wants to watch tv with me, one of my greats joys is movie night with the kids!


I went through a really tough spot a few yrs ago and it REALLY effected my work (was a Car Salesman) and thankfully I had a boss who had experianced the same and offered to help me through...his piece of advice that sticks with me to this day is work is work and home is home..one cannot control the other..especially in Sales. I placed a box by my office door and every morning I would drop off all my home problems in the box (pretending of course) and I would worry and deal with those when my work day was done and would leave my imaginary work issue at the front door when I would get home..it worked wonders with my attitude and my work.


I still do that now and then when one has been harder than normal.


Atleast you thought before you reacted and have the chance to spend time away.


Enjoy the holiday and family Scott, your lucky to have them!




Shawn

[SmokeRings]

Thank you for sharing this Scott. Im sorry about your work situation however it seems likes you have this situation under control now. Nothing is more important in life than family, that is something that took me a while to realize.
Thanks for letting us get to know you a little better.

[dj1340]

Great post Scott, I read somewhere a long time ago that people spend so much time looking back on bad things and situations that we fail to see the good things available in front of us. Good luck.