STRIVE TO
BE HAPPY...
GO PLACIDLY AMID THE NOISE AND 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 THE DULL AND IGNORANT,THEY TOO HAVE THEIR
STORY.
AVOID LOUD AND AGGRESSIVE PERSONS,THEY ARE
VEXATIONS TO THE SPIRIT.IF YOU COMPARE YOURSELF WITH OTHERS,YOU MAY BECOME
VAIN AND BITTER,FOR ALWAYS THERE WILL BE GREATER AND LESSER PERSONS THAN
YOURSELF.ENJOY YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS AS WELL 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 IDEALSAND EVERYWHERE LIFE IS FULL OF HEROISM.BE
YOURSELF, ESPECIALLY, DO NOT FEIGN AFFECTIONS,NEITHER BE CYNICAL ABOUT
LOVE,FOR IN THE FACE OF ALL ARIDITY & DISENCHANTMENT,IT IS PERENNIAL
AS THE GRASS.
TAKE KINDLY THE COUNCIL OF THE YEARS,GRACEFULLY
SURRENDERING THE THINGS OF YOUTH. NURTURE STRENGTH OF SPIRIT TO SHIELD
YOU IN SUDDEN MISFORTUNES. BUT DO NOT DISTRESS YOURSELF IN IMAGININGS FOR
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 ITSELF AS IT SHOULD.
THEREFORE BE AT PEACE WITH GOD WHAT EVER YOU CONCEIVE HIM TO BE, AND WHATEVER
YOUR LABORS AND ASPIRATIONS, IN THE NOISY CONFUSION OF LIFE, KEEP PEACE
WITH YOUR SOUL. WITH ALL ITS SHAM, DRUDGERY & BROKEN DREAMS, IT IS
STILL A BEAUTIFUL WORLD.BE CAREFUL, STRIVE TO BE HAPPY.
Found in Old St
Paul Church, Baltimore. Dated 1692