Desiderata by Max Ehrmann and Revisited by Kim Conrad

Desiderata Max Ehrmann and Revisited Kim Conrad

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 to the dull and the 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 as 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 ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. 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 as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann c.1920

Desiderata

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My friend Kim Conrad does FB live readings. This is her version of this classic poem:

Kim Conrad November 2 2022
“Desiderata” Revisited & the Original by Max Ehrmann
In Gratitude to Max Ehrmann for his poem “Desiderata”
With grace & kindness I offer my collaborative version for today as my heart sings it
I am posting this collaborative version first and then Max Ehrmann’s original version written in 1927 ❤
“Desiderata” Revisited – Kim Conrad
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there is in silence.
As far as possible, without giving up your innate, heart filling truths of life, strive to be on good terms with all persons, including yourself. Uncover lost woundings from ongoing triggers so that you may heal to greater heights than ever before.
Speak your truth caringly, clearly, with deep listening and intentions of finding common ground and collaborative capacities;
With openness and a desire to understand inquire and listen to others, even those who might appear to be less educated or experienced in certain areas of life than you – they too have their story.
And – they likely have experience in areas where you do not yet.
Listen, Explore, Learn and Rise again anew with new eyes and new ears.
We can All learn from each other and come to understand, when we choose, that we All have pains, we All have joys, desires and dreams; we All have actions and reactions – those survival patterns often unconsciously chosen; we All have music to sing, we All have value to add to this world.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit and are often masters at convincing others to think and do things that do not serve the convinced; they serve the convincer.
When we are vexed, pause, step away, give space to view
from a distance with the intention to walk around the circle of
that circumstance to see from many different viewing points.
Breathe.
Actions taken from a triggered place will at some point backfire.
Space adds grace.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and ‘considered’ lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans!
Keep interested in your own career, your own calling;
it is a cherished treasure in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world does have trickery.
Yet let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it can be as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully letting go the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
And do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
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, we can create greater value than any cost. Therefore be at peace with the Sacred essence of life – whatever you conceive that Sacredness of Life to be.
And – whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, continually nurture and expand peace in your soul.
With all its challenges, this is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. What can you give gratitude for?
And what moments can you receive that bring you joy?
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. – by Kim Conrad based from Max Ehrmann’s “Desiderata”

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