Desiderata (4)

Posted by LadyLibidienne on Sun 6 Jun 10, 9:33 PM to LadyLibidienne's blog.

As relevant now as when it was written

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble, it's a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann

Edited Sun 6 Jun 10, 10:20 PM by LadyLibidienne

Replies

7 Jun 10, 6:52 AM
geoff917
UK(CO), 3 yrs

So So true, could not agree with you more, Lady Libidienne ...!!

"In order to finish first, you must first finish".....Roger Penske

Edited 7 Jun 10, 6:53 AM by geoff917

7 Jun 10, 5:09 PM
xCallyx
UK, 5 yrs

i discovered this a few years ago Ann, and loved it. i just wish that i could remember it more often. It is so very true and just reading it once more gave me a wonderful sense of calm. Thank you for posting

The bottom half of GC INC

9 Jun 10, 2:15 PM
LadyLibidienne
UK(CB), 8 yrs

xCallyx wrote:
i discovered this a few years ago Ann, and loved it. i just wish that i could remember it more often. It is so very true and just reading it once more gave me a wonderful sense of calm. Thank you for posting

Your welcome love it has always been a favourite and it seemed to come to my inbox at just the right time

"And the tigers come at night, with their voices soft as thunder "
"A heart is not judged by how much it loves but by how much it is loved" Wizard of Oz to the Tinman
"You give little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give" Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

12 Jun 10, 11:42 AM
Ima_Kant
UK(PO), 3 yrs

LadyLibidienne wrote:
As relevant now as when it was written

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. [somebody please tell the drunks that who pass under my window in the early hours!]

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant[Sorry no can do... had enough of those fackers when I was on the buses!]; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.[I wonder why I had no friends]

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.[Only vain in my case]

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble, it's a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.[Once again I have to disagree... money is the only possession in the changing fortunes of time!]

Exercise caution in your business affairs,[Don't read this if you are a member of the Labour Party] for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.[It's the only way I have pulled over the years... give me a break!] Neither be cynical about love;[And end up losing three quarters of your wealth... I think not] for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,[Dignitas] gracefully surrendering the things of youth.[Before you go fucking senile]

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.[Marriage again...] But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.[It cheers me up] Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.[And the wife finding out about your double life!]

Beyond a wholesome discipline,[Discipline yes... wholesome no] be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.[stop paying your rent or mortgage to test that 'right']

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding[So when the sun expands in 5 billion years and frazzles us we'll still be calling it unfolding!] as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,[Meddling facker] whatever you conceive him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,[Teach you for voting for New Labour] it is still a beautiful world.[Should have gone to Specsavers!]

Be cheerful.[Yeah.. right]

Strive to be happy.[That's enough of that!]

Written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann