DESIDERATA

~~DESIDERATA~~
“desired things”

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 (1872 – 1945), poet & lawyer

Humility

As the New Year arrives, it's a great time to start thinking about the importance of what we do in life. Every year brings a fresh new discovery to mind. We all start thinking about bright new ideas and projects that can enhance our lives! Why not think about what values we have to offer this new year?

One core value that I have learned about this past year is humility. Hu-mil-i-ty {hyoo-mil-i-tee}, by definition, is "the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.". By definition, humility is the expression of being not proud or arrogant; of being modest; courteously respectful. Something I want to strive for in 2010.

Humility is something that I see heroes as having. My hero is my father. It was with humility, this past October, he accepted the Presidential Unit Citation by our United States President, Barack Obama. It was with humility my father triumphed over his teen years without a father. It was with humility my father has banished the inner-most temptations of drugs and alcohol that are everpresent, and had endured in his past. It was with humility my father overcame his own prejudice through life's more recent events. It's with humility my father loves so deeply that every time we separate ~ his eyes well-up with tears.

This past November I got married. Ever since I've been with my husband; even pre-marriage, my father has given us advice and carried on with my husband in a way that only a father and son can do. My father never had a son; my husband, never a father; but it is through humility my husband has become my father's son. It is with profound humility my father gives us both the most amazingly wise advice with regards to our relations with each other. My father will turn 62 this spring, and looks not a day past 40. I believe in my heart that humility has kept him young. Wisdom, however, is what will guide him through the next stage of his life. Because I now see how his humility is becoming his wisdom. I must say, that through everything we have been through as a family ~ and everything HE has been through as my father. He is truly a hero. My wish for 2010 is that as my hero's humility becomes his wisdom, that humility will be relinquished in me.

A Day In the Life...

Well it's my very first day of a blogger's life and my mind draws a blank. Isn't it amazing that for MONTHS now, I've been meaning to start a blog as a way to highlight life's little ups-and-downs and just genuinely speak about mind-boggling things. And the day my mind freezes up is the day that I create my blog?!?! Guess this means it's time for topics......First thing that comes to mind is the simple things.

I've recently been suffering from losses encompassed in several realms of our workplace over the past few weeks...and it recently triggered the topic of "How We Handle the Little Things in Life." Yes, this topic is one that is cumbersome to discuss. It almost seems as though it has been under recent burn-out; with literature and articles, and books on self lessons. However, living in Los Angeles has brought some developing perspective in my life, as it relates to the subject.

Having grown-up in Iowa for the first 18 years of my life, I had to take the road-less-traveled as a college freshman, where I ventured out to begin my college dreams in Tucson, Arizona. Upon transferring from ju-co I moved to Iowa City, Iowa; and from there life was expanded in places like Phoenix, Arizona; Rochester, Minnesota; Baltimore, Maryland; and in multiple communities throughout the Los Angeles area. Through recent loss of family and clientelle throughout the workforce, the topic of "Appreciating the Little Things" has taken on a completely new meaning. From the very current economic crisis, to the despair of losing a close family member, to the everyday stresses of family life, we all are affected by these triggers. The biggest difference is the way we handle things....Especially, in trying economic times, and all along while I live in a city that "feels" the burdens of these stresses.

Some perspective: Two adults are running errands on a Thursday evening, Maria is turning out of the grocery store parking lot, headed back home to her family. Jonathan is turning in, in a fury. The two automobiles crash and both people are instantly killed. Jonathan was the CEO of an international corporation, driving his Mercedes Benz, with billions of dollars in the bank and even more in investments. Maria, the single mother of two; with a job as a caregiver. She lived paycheck-to-paycheck. Both individuals are now gone. Looking back on their lives, do either of the two have any regrets? Have they lived completely fulfilling lives? If they could look back, were they truly happy? In their own rights, they probably were, but the moral of this story is not if they lived truly happy lives....It's that, in the end, both of them were given an unfortunate and unexpected circumstance...And now, although they had entirely dramatic ends to their lives on earth ~ they are now both in death's hands.

Sounds dreary, but the questions that puzzle me include: Do we all live our lives in complete and utter happiness? Are we truly and morally content in our minds, our bodies, and our decisions? Do we take time to slow down and take one last look to the left before driving through a stop sign? Are we out rushing around, just to get somewhere faster? Are we angry at the car ahead of us because they still have their left blinker on? Are we slowing down on our walks to smell some flowers? Are we waiting an extra 30 seconds while a little old couple walks across the street? Can we really just slow down and appreciate life in our world?

Living in a city like Los Angeles I feel the fury of people hustling and bustling. I can feel this anger in the tone of voices in this city....And it's really sad. Often I blame it on the stresses of the economy bogging us all down, but lately I feel as though it's just how life is nowadays. It's one big fury of exploiting our money, spending when we don't need to, and carrying on when it really isn't worth the effort.

In the end we are all people who were born into a world that was originated to enjoy. Now we are all just caught up in a mess of fury. Life is much too short on earth. Taking time to reflect on our own life goals before the New Year...and as the economy spins unconditionally ~ can only put our gifts into perspective. Slow down, love one another, and don't take forgranted that in the end, we all end up in the same glorious place. We might as well enjoy this one.