Author Unknown
Just for today I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle all my problems at once.
Just for today, I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said, that "Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."
Just for today, I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my "luck" as it comes, and fit myself to it.
Just for today, I will try to strengthen my mind, I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.
Just for today, I won't find fault with anything, nor try to improve or regulate anybody but myself.
Just for today, I will have a quiet half-hour all by myself, and relax.
Just for today, I will be unafraid. Especially, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Irish Blessing
May the blessings of light be on you--light without and light within
May the blessed sunshine shine on you and warm your heart until it glows like a great peat fire--so that the stranger may come and warm himself, and also a friend
And may the light shine out of the two eyes of you, like a candle set in two windows of a house, bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm
May the blessings of the rain be on you--the soft, sweet rain
May it fall upon your spirit, so that all the flowers may spring up, and shed their sweetness on the air
And may the blessings of the Great Rains be on you: May they beat upon your spirit and wash it fair and clean and leave there many a shining pool where the blue heavens shines reflected--and sometimes a star
And may the blessings of the Earth be on you--the Great Round Earth
May you ever have a kindly greeting for those you pass as you're going along the roads
May the earth be soft under you when you lie out upon it, tired at the end of the day
And may it rest easily over you, when at last you be out under it. May it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be quickly through it, and up, and off, and on its way to God.
May the blessed sunshine shine on you and warm your heart until it glows like a great peat fire--so that the stranger may come and warm himself, and also a friend
And may the light shine out of the two eyes of you, like a candle set in two windows of a house, bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm
May the blessings of the rain be on you--the soft, sweet rain
May it fall upon your spirit, so that all the flowers may spring up, and shed their sweetness on the air
And may the blessings of the Great Rains be on you: May they beat upon your spirit and wash it fair and clean and leave there many a shining pool where the blue heavens shines reflected--and sometimes a star
And may the blessings of the Earth be on you--the Great Round Earth
May you ever have a kindly greeting for those you pass as you're going along the roads
May the earth be soft under you when you lie out upon it, tired at the end of the day
And may it rest easily over you, when at last you be out under it. May it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be quickly through it, and up, and off, and on its way to God.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
And You Learn...
By Veronica Shofstall
After a while you learn
the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn that love doesn't mean possession
and company doesn't mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises and you begin to accept
your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead
with the grace of an adult, not with the grief of a child.
And you learn to build your roads today
because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have ways of falling down in mid-flight.
After a while you learn that even sunshine
burns if you get too much so you plant your
own garden and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure
and you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn...
After a while you learn
the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn that love doesn't mean possession
and company doesn't mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises and you begin to accept
your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead
with the grace of an adult, not with the grief of a child.
And you learn to build your roads today
because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have ways of falling down in mid-flight.
After a while you learn that even sunshine
burns if you get too much so you plant your
own garden and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure
and you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn...
Monday, July 5, 2010
From 20 Love Poems and a Song of Despair
By Pablo Neruda
I do not love you as if you were salt-rose or topaz
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved
in secret, between shadow and soul
I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love, a certain solid fragrance
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where
I love you straightforwardly, without complexity or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way
Than this: where "I" does not exist nor you
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep
I do not love you as if you were salt-rose or topaz
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved
in secret, between shadow and soul
I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love, a certain solid fragrance
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where
I love you straightforwardly, without complexity or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way
Than this: where "I" does not exist nor you
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Ark Lessons from Professor Noah
From Kerygma, April 2003
1. Don't miss the boat.
2. Try to remember that we're all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark, you know.
4. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big.
5. Don't listen to critics. Just get on with what has to be done.
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
8. Two heads are better than one.
9. Speed isn't always an advantage; after all the snails were on board with the cheetahs.
10. When you're stressed, try floating awhile.
11. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs; it was the Titanic that was built by professionals.
12. Remember that woodpeckers inside are a bigger threat than storms outside.
13. No matter what the difficulty, trust in the Almighty. There will always be a rainbow at the end of the storm.
1. Don't miss the boat.
2. Try to remember that we're all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark, you know.
4. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big.
5. Don't listen to critics. Just get on with what has to be done.
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
8. Two heads are better than one.
9. Speed isn't always an advantage; after all the snails were on board with the cheetahs.
10. When you're stressed, try floating awhile.
11. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs; it was the Titanic that was built by professionals.
12. Remember that woodpeckers inside are a bigger threat than storms outside.
13. No matter what the difficulty, trust in the Almighty. There will always be a rainbow at the end of the storm.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The 11th to 20th Commandments
11th. Thou shalt not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.
12th. Thou shalt not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.
13th. Thou shalt not cross bridges before you come to them, for no one has yet succeeded in accomplishing this.
14th. Thou shalt handle only one problem at a time, and leave the others to the Lord until their turn comes up.
15th. Thou shalt not take troubles to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.
16th. Thou shalt not try to carry the problems of the world on your shoulders, for nobody (except for One) has a back that is broad enough.
17th. Thou shalt be a good listener, for God often speaks to us through the mouths of others.
18th. Thou shalt not try to relive yesterday; for good or ill, it is forever gone. Live in the now and rejoice in it.
19th. Thou shalt firmly dismiss feelings of frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will interfere with positive action.
20th. Thou shalt count thy blessings, never overlooking the smallest, for our biggest blessings are composed of many small ones.
12th. Thou shalt not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.
13th. Thou shalt not cross bridges before you come to them, for no one has yet succeeded in accomplishing this.
14th. Thou shalt handle only one problem at a time, and leave the others to the Lord until their turn comes up.
15th. Thou shalt not take troubles to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.
16th. Thou shalt not try to carry the problems of the world on your shoulders, for nobody (except for One) has a back that is broad enough.
17th. Thou shalt be a good listener, for God often speaks to us through the mouths of others.
18th. Thou shalt not try to relive yesterday; for good or ill, it is forever gone. Live in the now and rejoice in it.
19th. Thou shalt firmly dismiss feelings of frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will interfere with positive action.
20th. Thou shalt count thy blessings, never overlooking the smallest, for our biggest blessings are composed of many small ones.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Desiderata
By Max Ehrmann
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 the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and 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, no matter how humble; it is 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 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 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 with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
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 the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and 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, no matter how humble; it is 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 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 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 with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Rules for Living
1. Anything that is worth doing is worth doing well.
2. The great essentials of happiness are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.
3. Keep skid chains on your tongue; always say less than you think. Cultivate a low, persuasive voice. How you say it counts more than what you say.
4. Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging word about somebody.
5. Praise good work, regardless of who did it. If criticism is needed, criticize helpfully, not spitefully.
6. Make promises sparingly, and keep them faithfully no matter what it costs.
7. Be interested in others, their pursuits, their work, their homes and families. Make merry with those who rejoice, with those who weep, mourn. Let everyone you meet, however humble feel that you regard him as a person of importance.
8. Be cheerful. Don't burden or depress those around you by dwelling on your minor aches and pains and small disappointments. Remember, everyone is carrying some kind of a load.
9. Keep an open mind. Discuss, but don't argue. It is a mark of a superior mind to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.
10. Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Remember, the person who carried the message may not be the most accurate reporter in the world. Simply live so that nobody will believe them. Disordered nerves and bad digestion are a common cause of backbiting.
11. Don't be too anxious about the credit due you.
12. Do your best, and be patient. Forget about yourself, and let
others "remember." Success is much sweeter that way.
13. Observe and get to know where it hurts, then don't use it to hurt or abuse anybody.
14. Let argguments fly out open windows. Give no answer to contentious arguments or irresponsible accusations. Let such things fly out open windows until they spend themselves. If you try to answer or reason back, you only serve to gratify and ignite pent-up hostility and anger.
15. Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.
16. Do not harm little children.
17. Refrain from saying the unkind or negative thing, particularly when provoked or fatigued.
18. Do not give opinion or advice unless you are asked.
19. Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them.
20. When in another's house, show him/her respect; or else do not go there.
21. Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the person and he cries out to be relieved.
2. The great essentials of happiness are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.
3. Keep skid chains on your tongue; always say less than you think. Cultivate a low, persuasive voice. How you say it counts more than what you say.
4. Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging word about somebody.
5. Praise good work, regardless of who did it. If criticism is needed, criticize helpfully, not spitefully.
6. Make promises sparingly, and keep them faithfully no matter what it costs.
7. Be interested in others, their pursuits, their work, their homes and families. Make merry with those who rejoice, with those who weep, mourn. Let everyone you meet, however humble feel that you regard him as a person of importance.
8. Be cheerful. Don't burden or depress those around you by dwelling on your minor aches and pains and small disappointments. Remember, everyone is carrying some kind of a load.
9. Keep an open mind. Discuss, but don't argue. It is a mark of a superior mind to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.
10. Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Remember, the person who carried the message may not be the most accurate reporter in the world. Simply live so that nobody will believe them. Disordered nerves and bad digestion are a common cause of backbiting.
11. Don't be too anxious about the credit due you.
12. Do your best, and be patient. Forget about yourself, and let
others "remember." Success is much sweeter that way.
13. Observe and get to know where it hurts, then don't use it to hurt or abuse anybody.
14. Let argguments fly out open windows. Give no answer to contentious arguments or irresponsible accusations. Let such things fly out open windows until they spend themselves. If you try to answer or reason back, you only serve to gratify and ignite pent-up hostility and anger.
15. Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.
16. Do not harm little children.
17. Refrain from saying the unkind or negative thing, particularly when provoked or fatigued.
18. Do not give opinion or advice unless you are asked.
19. Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them.
20. When in another's house, show him/her respect; or else do not go there.
21. Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the person and he cries out to be relieved.
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