Dogs and Roses: Reducing Stress and Anxiety in Today’s Troubled Times

This book is meant to be dipped into and savored any time you need to escape the rush of the outside world and experience the peace and beauty that both dogs and roses give us. Look at it as a random walk in the park, where you can see happy dogs trotting past beautiful roses.Roses are special to me. My name includes a rose, my garden growing up was filled with roses, my wedding dress had roses embedded in the lace fabric and my anniversary coincides with the annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade.Dogs are also special to me, as you can see from the dedication. They have always been part of my life and will always be.Dogs and roses above all offer sanctuary from those hectic, hurried days where stress and agitation impinge on our world. Taking a moment to observe the beauty of roses quiets the storms between my ears and brings me back to peace and calm.Dogs and roses allow us to escape the structured boxes that often restrict our lives. They don’t care when we pay attention to them. They only care that we notice them and allow their loyalty and beauty to inspire us. In this book, you will step away from the world that demands constant attention to a world that allows random interest. Join me on a journey through this neglected world where surprises lurk around every corner (and on every page) and a laugh, a tear, or just a sigh, is never far away. May these photos and statements offer you a moment to step back, unwind, and simply appreciate life’s beauty.