Going placidly amid the noise and haste

I've had an entire 5 days of relative solitary quiet recuperation here at home. The weather has been gloomy, uncharacteristic for July, even for Vancouver. I'm indifferent to it however, since the looming symptoms seem to be fever and light sensitivity. I spend most of my time sleeping, or peering through hundreds of websites on art, design, fashion and writing. I've come across some things new and rediscovered other things.



Two weeks ago today I met up with an old friend from school - like grade school - grade 7 in fact. Nicola lives in beautiful Horseshoe Bay with her young son (who is fabulously adorable with long, wavy, pure blonde hair). She's an artist and her home reflects a unique and fabulous Bohemian West Coast flair. Besides her own original palate knifed paintings and charcoal drawings, in the hallway of her abode, she hangs Max Ehrmann's prose "Desiderata". A total classic and I was so excited to see it posted out somewhere, since I hadn't seen it in years. I discovered it when I was about 24 years old, while working in a real estate office as a conveyancer. Computers were relatively new in the workplace and Desiderata was my password. No one knew what I was talking about. And while I still don't have one tatoo on me, I wouldn't be obverse to having this on me.

Along the similar vane as Desiderata, an email was sent to me - the list below - which was published by award-winning columnist Regina Brett, at The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.
When she turned 45, she wrote the 45 lessons life taught her. She republished it and added a few things when she turned 50. It was the most-requested column she'd ever written. But Regina IS NOT 90 years old...Somewhere along the way, her correct age got lost in on-line translation. See HERE.

So here is Regina's list and I've highlighted the ones I so truly understand and fully subscribe to thus far in my journey:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.