Desiderata

[Heartinpieces]

A man I once loved gave me this poem in a frame. I still keep it with me and wanted to share.

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.

[paulmh]

Thanks Heartinpieces. I keep mine in the car. When driving is rough, I take it out, and think, go placidly amongst the noise and haste...

[TheGirlInside]

Heart in Piece,

I LOVE that poem!! "Desiderata" was the name of my first college dorm, so I have been drawn to that poem ever since.

At a garage sale after college, I bought what I thought was the Desiderata decoupaged onto a slab of wood and kept it up in every place I've ever lived. But, while on some recovery sites ( ), I found the WHOLE poem...the one I'd had all those years before was only the first half and stopped at "
and everywhere life is full of heroism."

I have grown rather fond of the latter half, feeling as though I missed out on the part I NEEDED to read...especially these lines:

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.

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.

Great recovery principles (and to think it was written some 8 years before AA was started...)

[Ann]

Yup, this is my favourite also, and as I became involved in recovery, this last part is one that I play in my mind on days I feel shaky...

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.

Thank you for bringing this here, I enjoyed reading it again.

[Heartinpieces]

oh yay! i went to a NA meeting today that i had never been to before and there it was in a frame on the wall of the room where the meeting was being held. it made me smile!