PoEmAs E mAiS pOeMaS

How To Be Happy

1. Make up your mind to be happy.

Learn to find pleasure in simple things.

2. Make the best of your circumstances.

No one has everything,

and everyone has something of sorrow intermingled

with gladness of life.

The trick is to make the laughter outweigh the tears.

3. Don´t take yourself too seriously.

Don´t think that somehow you should be protected from misfortune that befalls other people.

4. You can´t please everybody.

Don´t let criticism worry you.

5. Don´t let your neighbour set your standards.

Be yourself.

6. Do the things you enjoy doing, but stay out of debt.

7. Never borrow trouble.

Imaginary things are harder to bear than real ones.

8. Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish jealousy, enmity, grudges.

Avoid people who make you unhappy.

9. Have many interests.

If you can´t travel, read about new places.

10. Don´t hold postmortems.

Don´t spend your time brooding over sorrows or mistakes.

Don´t be one who never gets over things.

11. Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.

12. Keep busy at something.

A busy person never has time to be unhappy.

Robert Louís Stevenson

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How To Be Rich

(in all the ways that matter most)

Always take time for...

Big smiles. Sunday mornings. Long walks. Warm Appreciation.

Precious memories. Things that bring a sense of joy to your heart.

Staying in touch... with the people who will always mean so much.

Find a way to...

Be good to yourself (really good).

Build the bridges that will take you everywhere you´ve ever wanted to go.

Write out your own definition of success,

and then do your absolute best to make that story come true.

Get closer and closer to the summit of every mountain you´ve ever wanted to climb.

Make the most... of your moment... of this moment in time.

Make plans to...

Slow down the days. Find your perfect pace.

Be strong enough. Be gentle enough.

Reap the sweet rewards that will come from all the good things you do

and all the great things you give.

Keep things in perspective.

Remember to...

Invest wisely in the best riches of all.

Share invaluable words over warm cups in quiet places.

Treasure time spent in heart-to-heart conversations. Laugh a lot.

Work it all out. Move ahead of every worry. Move beyond any sorrows.

Have yourself a wealth of beautiful tomorrows.

And (last, but not least)

never underestimate the power of...

Friendship. Family. Chocolate.

And Love.

Douglas Pagels

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Share Yourself With Those You Love

Smile each day for those you love.
Let them know by the brightness of your face
that you are happy they´re in your life.
Even if there are times when you argue and disagree.

Touch each day those you love.
Hold them close, even if briefly.
The human touch is one of the most comforting things in our world,
and one of the most reassuring.

Speak softly each day to those you love.
Those whispers of intimacy
that tell them what you say are important,
but meant for their ears are their ears only.

Muse quietly each day on those you love.
Allow yourself to find those things
that you admire and respect in that person.
Forgetting, at least for a moment,
any for the negative.

Allow yourself to be vulnerable to those you love.
It is a most frightening experience to be without shields,
but it can also be the most wonderful thing in the world
to find another holds your spirit carefully within their heart.

Believe that you deserve those you love.
Your love is the most precious gift
that you can bestow on another human.
You deserve to be loved in return.
Without constraints.
Without reserve.

Be honest with those you love.
Let them know how important they are in your life.
Take care that they never have to guess at what you think and feel.
There may come a time when they walk away...
and then would you regret not telling them?
In all possible ways?

Brenda Hager

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