there are times when the weight of the world and all of it's problems overwelm me. i get so caught up in the things that i cannot change that i loose sight of the things that i can change. your beautiful post about stopping to smell the roses and to concentrate on the here and now came at a time when i was starting to freak out; thinking that i had bitten off more than i could chew. i took your advice, took a deep breathe and let the springtime weather chase all of my worries away at a friend's lake and A-frame. it was soooo peaceful, w/o a phone. and you are so right, i came home that evening, refreshed, refocused, recommitted and renewed. i can bear almost anything, but sleep deprivation is a killer. thanks for sharing your story!