Adventure #32: (Delayed) Official Stop and Smell the Roses Day - Take 2

"A friend is someone who, upon seeing another friend in immense pain, would rather be the one experiencing the pain, than to have to watch their friend suffer."

This was something I planned on posting this nearly 3 weeks ago on Official Stop and Smell the Roses Day. But that - as is apparent - did not happen. So here we are. And I've brought to here to talk about three kinds of people.

First, there are people who treat Stop and Smell the Roses Day as I explained it here. This is how I view the day and how I think it should be treated. Make life less complicated and show gratitude for what we have. The other treatments are not wrong - but to get the most out of the holiday, this is the best route.

Next, there are people who take it literally: Stop. Smell a rose or two. Move on. Done. I approve and you guys make me chuckle.

Lastly, there are those who treat it as a day to do nothing. Until this year's experience, I have argued that this is not how it works. Don't do nothing. However, when a migraine hit and I was down for the count, nothing was exactly what I wanted and exactly what happened.

For the first half of the day, I was barely conscious because when I was awake the nausea hit. So I avoided that. When I was finally aware, I texted MFK to save me from further pain by bringing me some Pepsi, for which I will always be grateful. Once she arrived, the rest of the day was spent watching Stargate.

So for the first time, I did nothing on Official Stop and Smell the Roses Day. I will never again say that doing nothing is against the rules. It was in not having things to do that gave me the opportunity to be sick without added stress. And all things considered, celebrating the day by watching Stargate with MFK was the best way.

Adventure #28: Children vs. Growing Up

“When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.” ~Patrick Rothfuss

I've decided to start a "Children vs." selection of posts. This won't be an every month thing but I have more than one idea in relation to being children, so I felt it was necessary. I've spend so much time with children - teaching, tending, playing, etc - that I have few musings I'd like to share. This world is a better place because of the children in it.

Over the holiday break, I spent some time with my friends Melanie and Chris and their baby boy. The baby was having a cranky sort of day (as we are all likely to have) but a surprising thing distracted him. Winking. He was in his high chair making a pleasant mess and fussing here and there. I'm not sure how we noticed but when I would wink at him, he'd blink back and chuckle. I was so fascinated by this that I continued this "game" for probably 20 minutes. I didn't quit and neither did he. With every wink from me, he would blink right back (I say blink because his "wink" was with both eyes). And, as would be expected for such entertainment, the laughter was continuous for all parties.

How simple is that? I got lost in a world of repetitive exploration. Or perhaps psychological conditioning. Either way, Baby Boy Blinks was as happy to play along as I was. He had just learned a new skill that had a positive and immediate response. If only that type of experience was more frequent in the world.

Additionally, just today I was with My Friend Katie and her niece, lamenting over random drama in my day. When I was holding the adorable, squirmy little one (MFK's niece), I stood her up on my lap and addressed her, asking her about my problems. Before I could even get the first question out, her squishable face lit up like I'd just told her she'd won a million dollars (as a baby though, I don't think she'd care so much about that). I forgot my dilemma in the beam of that radiating smile. She was happy to be talked to, to be held, to be noticed.

How simple is that? I couldn't even finish the question, having encountered that cuteness. But more than that, Sweet Squirmy Smiles found joy in my goofy face and amusing voice. She appreciated a little attention and let you know with a beaming smile. This type of experience is definitely a simple indication but one that we could also use more of in life.

Perhaps my connection to growing up is unclear. Mostly, I just wanted to tell two really great stories. But at the same time, we lose some of this simplicity as we grow up. Learning a little something isn't celebrate-able anymore and a smile means so little after a few years. Something should be done about this. Hold on to the smiles. Don't forget to give a little attention. When you learn something, share it. Always encourage silliness. Channel the simplicity of children as often as you can.