Desiderata

I was reminded of the poem Desiderata yesterday. I thought I’d share some of my favorite lines from the poem-

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

I first heard about Desiderata around this time 4 years ago from Gary, an inspirational shoe repair shop owner, in London.

That last line, in particular, is one I’ve thought about and shared repeatedly. It resonated deeply with me as it came to me at a period when I was struggling with letting go. I won’t say I’m fantastic at letting go now but I think I’m infinitely better than I used to be.

So, yesterday, when I caught myself fretting at a minor disruption to my plans, I remembered Desiderata and realized that it was time to take a deep breath, take stock and move on.

The universe is unfolding as it should.