Horse Around Acres

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence. à As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. à Speak your truth quietly & clearly; and listen to others, even the dull & ignorant; they too have their story. à Avoid loud & aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. à If you compare yourself with others, you may be vain & bitter; for always there will be greater & lesser persons than yourself. à Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. à Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. à 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 à Be yourself, especially, do not feign affection.  Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity & disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. à Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. à Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune, but do not distress yourself with imaginings.  May fears are born of fatigue & loneliness. à Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.  You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & 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. à Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever your labors & aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.   With all its sham, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.  Be careful, strive to be happy.

--Found in Old St. Pauls Church, Baltimore  …  Dated 1692