Desiderata

I can't believe that I forgot about this poem! It is too beautiful!


Desiderata

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.

The Little Things

When I finish work, I always complain to myself about how I don't want to walk outside because it's freezing cold. I usually have to scrape off all the frost on my windows before I can drive away which adds to the length of time freezing to death - or so it seems. I always walk outside preparing for the worst and then I look up at the sky and stop. I think to myself "Wow. It sure is beautiful tonight!" I pick out Jupiter in the sky and continue walking to my car with a smile on my face. It's nice to admire the little things

It has been a weird year for me. So much and yet so little has happened, but I have felt a cascade of conflicting emotions. In ways my life got worse and in ways it got even better. I guess that's just life though. It's great AND it totally sucks. I've been known to get caught in downward spirals and with all the changes going on in my life, I've had an especially hard time keeping up. I try my best though. I know a lot of people love and care about me, but I know I isolate myself form others. I'm tired of doing this especially since I've been craving more interaction with others. By isolating myself, I am starving for a connection with others. I come home and feel pretty lonely which pushes me into a negative mindset. I always rely on the little things to bring me some happiness.

Tonight, it was the moon. The moon was just a thin curve. It resembled the Chesire cat's smile. It's my favorite phase - the waxing cresent. I see this moon phase as a reminder to smile more. Venus was visible right next to it, both about to set. I was driving as I saw them and could hardly pay attention to the road. Then something cool happened. I saw a shooting star jet across the sky cutting right through the area of where the moon and Venus were. It was really cool and just added to my love of simply seeing the moon and Venus disappear behind the mountains as they set.

A few weeks ago when there was a full moon, I woke up in the middle of the night unable to sleep and got some water. There was a crack in the blinds and I saw some light coming through. I looked outside and saw how my backyard looked in the moonlight and the way that the moon illuminated the bird bath. It was magical. I wish I could have taken a picture, but it was one of those moments where I said to myself "There is no way a camera could capture this magnificence." All I could do is take in the moment, smile, and go back to bed. It has stayed with me since.

Even though my life is an absolute mess, I somehow take comfort in the perfection of nature. There is something strangely poetic about it.

Strange & Beautiful: Random Loveliness - Part 3

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