Desiderata

I've been having a rough time lately. Dealing with a lot and ironically enough, my life has been going really great. I think a lot of it is self-imposed. I can't seem to make sense of people anymore. I'm not depressed, nor do I need therapy or meds. I just feel like my polarity is reversed and the people I want to be close to are being pushed away. I know it's not all me. But still, I'm bothered. It's times like this when I try my best to remember my favorite poem. It's called "Desiderata". If I never do anything else right my entire life, I hope to live as this poem suggests. Here it is:

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.

Not Me Monday...03/02/09

I will link the offical "Not me" site to this one eventually. But until then, here's a list of everything I didn't do.

I did NOT break a water line while digging in my yard yesterday trying to remove an old basketball goal.

I did NOT agree to a hook up from a friend, then delete the girl from my Facebook when she wouldn't respond to my simple hello email after an entire week.

I did NOT decide to just finish a class project myself in order to get it finished.

I did NOT fall asleep on the couch every night last week and last night when I was tired and should have just moved to the bed.

I did NOT agree to be friends with a woman I dated and then try and sleep with her still.

Once again, I did NOT plan to go to the Pub Church, then bail at the last minute.

I also did NOT start working on refinishing a guitar, then stop and not go get the supplies I needed yesterday.

After swearing off dating, I certainly did NOT agree to two new possible setups from friends eager to get me a girlfriend. ;-) Not me.