Desiderata: Original Text
This is the original text from the book where Desiderata was first published.
Go placidly amid the noise and the 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 the 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 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 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 in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
by Max Ehrmann ©1927
Comparison Kills Joy.
I heard it while strolling around the lake with a friend / relative. They were chattering about their exercise regime which sounded quite impressive. But then they made the profound statement that ‘Comparison kills joy’. Let me explain.
My friend is a similar age to me… so a modest middle age something or other. They made the observation of how comparing their own accomplishments to the young 20-something-year-olds that use the same facilities quashed their joy.
For example, the younger set may be able to run the lake in 20-something minutes, I can only run it in 30-something minutes.
When you read this in black and white it seems that my efforts, strenuous and valiant though they are, aren’t worth much. There is the question ‘How come I can’t set a sizzling pace like these youngsters’. Thus I can easily begin to slip down a spiral of angst and self pity. Poor ol me.
You see how my friend/relative was so very right.
By comparing myself to another, fitter, more able-bodied, much younger person the joy of my accomplishment has been squashed.
So what is the antidote? The way forward is to rejoice both in your own accomplishment AND to enthuse and congratulate those who are in their youth.
This is not always easy and the natural way of things, but it does get better with practice. The other little trick is to imagine what the youngster might be able to do / not do when they are Fr. David’s age.
In between times my friend / relative and I will continue our exercise regime with gusto and joy. Aren’t we fortunate that we still have the verve and energy to do this? How fortunate to have the example and inspiration of younger folk amongst us.