The old saying is that we should always “stop to smell the roses.” But, in today’s fast-paced, 24-hour-news-cycle world, it may be even more important that we don’t forget to notice there are flowers there at all.

It is very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives and take for granted the people around us, life’s simple pleasures and all the miracles this great world has to offer.

It’s really a constant challenge for me, personally, as I sometimes allow work to upset the balance between personal and professional life, but it is one that I work hard to try to overcome.

So, just to help people get to know me a little better, here are some of the simple things in life that I enjoy.

— Hugs from my daughters when I walk in the door after a long day at work. No amount of stress or bad day can withstand that unconditional love.

— Evening playtime with my kids that often ranges from board games to reenacting their favorite scenes from “The Wizard of Oz” to live interpretations of classic fairytales like “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.”

— Conversations with my wife after the girls are in bed, talking about everything and nothing at all

— A good cup of coffee any time of the day.

— Those quiet moments in the middle of the night that mild insomnia so generously provides.

— Seeing collaboration and hard work pay off with a satisfying result.

— Learning something new, which happens many times each day if I’m lucky.

— Seeing a friend, family member or colleague achieve success or being able to share in their happy moment.

— Meeting someone new or gaining a perspective that broadens my own horizons.

— Seeing a favorite sports team overcome obstacles to succeed; or even giving 100 percent before falling short.

— Engaging with some form of media — newspaper, magazine, book, movie or television show — that sparks an emotional response or causes me to think deeply.

I’m sure there are so many more that I have overlooked or taken for granted.

It never hurts to remind myself how great life is and how blessed we are to be on this planet.

 

Michael Caldwell is the publisher of Leader Publications LLC. He can be reached at (269) 687-7700 or by email at mike.caldwell@leaderpub.com.