Living triumphantly

"Once a man from Syria led a camel through the desert; but when he came to a dark abyss, the camel suddenly, with teeth showing and eyes protruding, pushed the unsuspecting paragon of the camel-driving profession into the pit. The clothes of the Syrian were caught by a rosebush, and he was held suspended over the pit, at the bottom of which an enormous dragon was waiting to swallow him. Moreover, two mice were busily engaged in chewing away roots of the already sagging plant. Yet, in this desperate condition, the Syrian was thralled to the point of utmost contentment by the rose which adorned the bush and wafted its fragrance into his face."

-Leo Tolstoy-

Now THAT is what it really means to stop and smell the roses.