I came across this beautiful poetry prose over a year ago in Manila, while unenthusiastically browsing through the over-crowded aisles of National Bookstore. Despite the back-to-school-shopping chaos around me, and the ear-splitting noise that caused a skull-splitting headache, this inspiring piece captivated my attention easily. Of course considering the aforementioned setting, the first line alone sort of had me at "hello." Yet I cannot tell you the emotion it was able to evoke in me (goodgracious, can I get any mushier than this), as I perused and absorbed its well-expressed messages, from one meaningful verse to another.
Written sometime in the 1920’s by Maxx Ehrmann, a lawyer from Indiana, Desiderata (a latin word in plural form which means desired things) contains the most finely tuned advice about attaining happiness in life.
The following is the complete version of Desiderata. Please enjoy!
Go placidly amid the noise and the 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 to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or 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 in your soul.With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy!
wow! that was beautiful indeed, joselyn! thanks for sharing that with us. i think i might have read this years and years ago in an english class in college, but the words seem even more powerful and meaningful today. maybe because i’m getting older, hehe:) i laughed out loud when i read the part about avoiding “loud and aggressive persons”:) how very true! the whole piece flowed with wisdom which we should all try to embrace, i think, as we live from day to day. thanks again for sharing this with us …
August 12, 2008 @ 11:16 pmHmmm…. AVOID loud and aggressive persons??? Does this mean we have to avoid each other from now on???? lol
August 13, 2008 @ 1:28 amgirl, short of being snooty, in our household, my siblings and i grew up on that, as well as other (bleeecccch, then) serious kinds of stuff like khalil gibran, og mandino, dale and andrew carnegie, maxwell maltz, the complete works of shakespeare, etc. etc.. max ehrmann sure fit right in, and needless to say, what he wrote was and is lovely to the end.
August 13, 2008 @ 4:43 amWow, have read this when I was younger, never really grasped its meaning. Now, with time and experiences, it made a lot more sense. Thanks Jo !
August 13, 2008 @ 8:31 pmOh wow, that piece of literature transported me back to my third year (hs) classroom. Our teacher Mrs. Bayudan asked us to memorize this piece and recite it in class. We were sniggering at that time because of the length of the piece, but in my journey to memorization, I have appreciated the beauty of this piece. But now, it is not just a beautiful piece, it has (unknowingly) become a nostalgic one as well, it’s a piece that is walking me through high school days down memory lane *sigh* not only because of its content, but just by its existence.
I agree with Chay and MJ, like them, reading it again after a long while, made me realize, NOW it holds a deeper meaning and points to a lot of truths. A very handy instruction manual.
Your “You had me at hello” kind-of expression (Jerry McGuire movie) made me smile…hehe. Looks as if it did, get you at hello, it had me bickering during those days in high school. The difference time can make of us! I am fond of this piece, Thank you for posting it, Jo.
August 14, 2008 @ 7:53 am