Starting Over Talk - Peer Coaching Support Site

With so many beautiful and witty afformations out there I thought maybe we can all share some of our favorite ones.

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 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 perenial as the grass
Take kindly the council 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 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 careful

Strive to be happy


- Max Erhmann (1872-1945)

"How To Stay Young, Happy & Healthy"



Throw out non-essential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.

Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. If you really need a grouch, there are probably a few dozen of your relatives to do the job.

Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening ...whatever. Just never let the brain idle.

Enjoy the simple things. When the children are young... that is all that you can afford. When they are in college... that is all that you can afford. When they are grown and you are on retirement... that is all that you can afford!

Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laugh so much that you can be tracked in the store by your distinctive laughter.

The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life is ... ourselves.

Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies ... whatever. Your home is your refuge.

Cherish your health. If it is good ... preserve it. If it is unstable ... improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve ... get help.

Don't take guilt trips. Go to the mall, the next county, a foreign country... but not guilt.

Tell the people you love, that you love them ... at every opportunity.

Remember ...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Here is another great one.....

I am Responsible for Myself.

I am responsible
for living my own life.

I am responsible
for tending to my own spiritual, emotional, physical,
and financial well-being.

I am responsible
for identifying and fulfilling my own needs, wants and desires.

I am responsible for
living according to my own values and standards.

I am responsible for
knowing and defending my own boundaries.

I am responsible for
solving my own problems and for living with those
I cannot solve.

I am responsible for
making up my own mind, even when this means
disagreeing with others.

I am responsible for
reevaluating a situation and changing my mind
when appropriate.

I am responsible for
setting my own priorities and for achieving my own goals.

I am responsible for
my own decisions, and their outcomes.

I am responsible for
whom I love and for how I choose to express that love.

I am responsible for
what I do to others and for what I allow others
to do to me.

I am not expected to be perfect.

I am not expected to foresee
every consequence of every action.

I am not expected to be
responsible for random events.

I am not expected to do
more than my fair share.

I am not expected to be
responsible for other people's actions, feelings, needs,
or problems except when I so choose.

All of me,
every aspect of my being, is important.

I count for something.

I matter.

My feelings are valid.

My thoughts are appropriate.

I trust and believe in myself.

I value my wants and needs.

I have rights
and I am expected to stand up for those rights.

I do not deserve,
and will not tolerate, abuse or constant mistreatment.

The decisions I make
and the way I conduct myself will reflect my high self-esteem.

I am unique and special.

Within me is infinite value.

I am me.



©1993 Angela Dawn Christie
Angela Wrote This Poem When She Began Her Recovery In Life.

TR,

These are all wonderful! Thank you for sharing them.

KPW

Thanks TigerRose for Desiderata. I chose this piece to appear in our senior yearbook(I was on the yearbook staff). It takes me back a ways. I remember how innocent I was I as read those words...so much of life ahead. I also had it on an album, if anyone remembers those things. I don't recall the name of the man who did the recitation, but it was sooo moving.

There have many times that I have recalled some of the words from Desiderata throughout my life. Some of the most used ones include:

Avoid loud and aggressvie persons
If you compare yourself to others you may become vain and bitter
Exercise caution in your business affairs
Take kindly to the council of years
Be gentle with yourself
Be at peace with God
Strive to be happy.

I have printed it out again and am hanging it up in my office today. I can use an uplift.

Desiderata, The Awakening, and I am Responsible: ... have all been God sends to me. When I have to deal with my father, sister, and my ex-husband....
matter of fact my attorney saw that I had Desiderata and after she read it, she asked for a copy for some other clients that could use it.

There are some periods of my life I have to read it daily just to keep focus when dealing with the "loud and aggressive people" that I have no choice but to deal with.