Desiderata ... and what I take from it
Desiderata
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 the 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 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, however 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 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 with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952
This poem is a spiritual touchstone for me reminding me of the importance of middle ground as opposed to extremes. Finding peace is not easily done and is worth holding onto and protecting. Every person has their own story and it's worth listening and gathering what you need from their experiences. Calmly and respectfully is the best way to share information.
How you do your job reflects your morals and standards you set for yourself. There will always be negative people in the world, the important thing is to let the knowledge that there is also good stop the negative stuff from darkening your spirit.
I am a perennial romantic. I believe love is as perennial as grass and can survive in the most arid of conditions. The thing I struggle with is being myself. When I fall in love with someone I want to know everything about them, but have a hard time believing that the reverse could be true. I'm fine exposing a certain amount of myself but letting someone completely in has been a challenge in my life.
I am still working on the strength of spirit but feel I've made good progress in that department. I have certainly known fears born of loneliness (and fatigue to a lesser extent). I do tend to be not-so-gentle with myself, but am better at that than I used to be.
That I am no less than the trees and the stars heartens my spirit very much. I strive to remember that I do have a right to be here. I wholeheartedly believe that the universe is unfolding as it should but that we all have our part to play in making it a better place.
Of late, I feel like I'm finding that peace with God and with his help, the same with my soul. It IS still a beautiful world despite the drudgery and broken dreams. I am striving to be happy by choosing to be.