How to find True Happiness!Written by Carl Cholette
To maintain an unchangeable sweetness of disposition, to think only thoughts that are pure and gentle, and to be happy under all circumstances, such blessed conditions and such beauty of character and life should be aim of all, and particularly so of those who wish to lessen misery of world. If anyone has failed to lift himself above ungentleness, impurity, and unhappiness, he is greatly deluded if he imagines he can make world happier by propagation of any theory or theology. He who is daily living in harshness, impurity, or unhappiness is day by day adding to sum of world's misery; whereas he who continually lives in goodwill, and does not depart from happiness, is day by day increasing sum of world's happiness, and this independently of any religious beliefs which these may or may not hold. He who has not learned how to be gentle, or giving, loving and happy, has learned very little, great though his book learning and profound his acquaintance which letter of Scripture may be, for it is in process of becoming gentle, pure, and happy that deep, real and enduring lessons of life are learned. Unbroken sweetness of conduct in face of all outward antagonism is infallible indication of a self-conquered soul, witness of wisdom, and proof of possession of Truth. A sweet and happy soul is ripened fruit of experience and wisdom, and it sheds abroad invisible yet powerful aroma of its influence, gladdening hearts of others, and purifying world. And all who will, and who have not yet commenced, may begin this day, if they will so resolve, to live sweetly and happily, as becomes dignity of a true manhood or womanhood. Do not say that your surroundings are against you. A man's surroundings are never against him; they are there to aid him, and all those outward occurrences over which you lose sweetness and peace of mind are very conditions necessary to your development, and it is only by meeting and overcoming them that you can learn, and grow, and ripen. The fault is in yourself. Pure happiness is rightful and healthy condition of soul, and all may possess it if they will live purely and unselfish.
| | Questions for the Game of LifeWritten by Maureen Killoran
“If you could eliminate one day from your past so that you never had to live through it, what day would you erase?”“If you could ask a single question of a dead relative, what would it be and of whom would you ask it?” These questions come from a little book I’ve been reading as a way to begin New Year. If. . . Questions for Game of Life by Evelyn McFarlane and James Saywell (Villard, 1995) My partner and I have been playing it, one of us throwing out a question, and then both of us sharing responses. Some questions are easy and fun: “If you had chance to make any one purchase that you passed up in your lifetime, what would it be?” (Ah, no contest! The set of antique china we found on Oregon coast some 8 years ago but were too timid to buy.” Others are a challenge: “If you could choose very last thing you will see before death, what would it be?” (That took some reflection, but, although I’m not a gardener, what I think I’d most want to see is perfect, full-blown rose.)
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