Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win.

We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience

To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain that sustain life, not the top.

The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands.

Even though quality cannot be defined, you know what quality is.

Any effort that has self-glorification as its final endpoint is bound to end in disaster.

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.

Desiderata (found in an old church – dated 1692)

 

Desiderata
(found in an old church – dated 1692)

 
Go placidly among 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 stories. 

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

If you compare yourself to others
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be both greater and lesser
persons then 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 perennial as grass. 

Take kindly the counsel of years
and gracefully surrender 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 on yourself. 

You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and 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 god 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 careful. 

Strive to be happy.

You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way.

Just be who you are, calm and clear and bright. Automatically, as we shine who we are, asking ourselves every minute is this what I really want to do, doing it only when we answer yes, automatically that turns away those who have nothing to learn from who we are and attracts those who do, and from whom we have to learn, as well.