Happy New Year Around the World

Happy New Year to you all....as and when it reaches your shores:

First to celebrate (closest to me):

Emily

then:

Dayli

followed by:

Freebird

LePhare

Zibi

and over to North America:

Steve

Chele

Sunny

Sally

Gillette

Miranda

His Sunshine

Sophie

Matt

Trueself
Tim
Julie
DooGooder (in case you happen by)

May the year ahead bring you all goodness and light, love and peace, happiness and health...in bucketloads!!

I have a date with Messrs Moet & Chandon at midnight, yes I come off the wagon every New Year's Eve - and I'm seriously considering staying off it in 2007!! But tonight it's just a quiet time at home with some bubbly and a stray box of M&S mini mince pies.

And 13 hours later I'll get to bring in another New Year with my love, by phone. I'm excited!!!

Thank you all for coming into my life in 2006, blogging has brought me friendship and more.

Can You See It?

Last November, while visiting with my mother, I took some pics of us all.

First of all, perhaps I should mention that four people have independently heard similar noises in the same part of the house, the part where I took this picture. If you look above Rhona's head, over to the right near the top of the picture, you'll see a yellow box, and an enlargement of the box.

I took several pictures one after the other around the room, but this is the only one where the 'orb' appears. And it's not a reflection of anything as it's over a beam and there's no bending of the image around the angle.



What do you see?

75 ÷ 2

= 37.50, which is how many minutes of sleep I've had over the past two nights. And that is a manipulation of numbers as in reality, I had 75 minutes on Tuesday night and 0 minutes last night.

I'm feeling just a tad worse for wear today, I hit the wall at 4pm today, forcing me to ingest some pretty high doses of caffeine. It's working though, I can feel my eyes opening again.

I think it's so many things:

1. Too many naps during the four-day break.

2. Too many DVDs to catch up on and watching them into the wee hours, knowing I could sleep during the other hours.

3. The blogland insomnia that seems to be taking hold.

4. The prospect of spending time with my love on the phone, but with the 13-hour time difference, his afternoon equals my early morning!

5. The excitement of another trip to be with my wonderful man, just over a week away.

And I have a wedding reception to go to this evening. I've to be there at 9pm and I think at this rate they won't be seeing that much of me. So I have to go home after work, shower, tartify myself, put on my happy wide-awake face, traipse off to a hotel ballroom, rub shoulders with the creme de la creme of Sindhi society here, wish the happy couple joy and good fortune and so on.

It's Anuja's brother-in-law who's tying the knot and I think I'll know about 6 people there (out of about 500!). Should make the mingling interesting! (Note to self, take business cards - yes, that's a requirement here even at such social events.)

This is my gift:- and no, it's not for the bedroom!!

While it may look like something that escaped from War of the Worlds, it's actually a 'classic' of postmodern product design of the 1990s. A Philippe Starck design for the Alessi production house. Oh and it's a kitchen utensil.

Actually, now that I think about it in the bedroom....hmmmmm. Oh my goodness it's the sleep deprivation, I swear it is!!!

Updated Friday : I slept last night, for five whole hours. A deep, deep sleep and I feel so much better today!!

What a Mess

It seems the earthquake yesterday, centred just off the southern tip of Taiwan, has damaged some undersea cables between here and there. This has taken out our (and the rest of South East Asia's) direct internet link to the US and it seems also the rest of the world. Our telecom companies have labelled this as 'disastrous' and are struggling to sort it out, hopefully by rerouting traffic west instead of east, but it seems the large financial houses have grabbed capacity early on as part of their contingency to keep running in the face of this adversity.

Yahoo and MSN are down. Access to 99.9% of websites is down. Amazingly Gmail and blogspot.com are still accessible!! Deadly slow but still producing the goods so kudos to them for obviously having some sort of plan for this eventuality - either that or they're hosted in some very strange locations!

I owe a few people emails and just wanted to get word out here that I haven't forgotten, just waiting for my hotmail account to get back up as there are emails in there for me to answer.

I think a lot of us here learned today just how much we rely on email to work, never mind play! And there's no firm commitment as to when we'll be back up, it could be a day or a week apparently.

Update: Oh dear, Gmail seems to be fading fast!!!

Update Thursday morning: Well, this is the story (from the newspaper, of course) "Operators are scrambling to repair damage to four undersea cables in the Luzon Strait between Hong Kong and Taiwan, with some estimating the multimillion-dollar job could take up to three weeks. Asia Netcom, one of the cable operators hit by the earthquake, said the damaged cables made up the main pipe that routed internet traffic to the US, stretching from Hong Kong via Taiwan and Japan. Traffic must go through alternative routes now. But the capacity along those routes is limited and all the traffic in Asia is swamping these tiny routes. People are urged to minimise non-essential internet access to overseas websites and not to keep making non-urgent overseas calls if they failed to get through."

Blogging IS essential internet access for me!! And Google (yay Google) remains the only site open to me. Oh and duh Fiona for the second time in a week, of course blogspot works, it was taken over by Google - for which I am totally grateful right now!!

I'm thankful too that I did manage to get a phone line out yesterday night and spent some wonderful time with my love. *happy happy smile*

Well, I For One...

....am glad they are all over. The Christmas festivities. I always find it an odd time of year, it stirs in me something I can't quite put my finger upon.

Growing up we had the tree and the presents and the Christmas lunch. The decorations, the wishes sometimes, but not always, met. I believed in Santa Claus for a while, then my lovely brother put paid to that childhood dream, like so many.

Nowadays, I choose not to celebrate it. I don't decorate, I don't do that many gifts (very strictly limited to those I care about), I don't do parties (except for the one I have to help organise for the office), I don't do silly hats or lit-up brooches or anything at all like that.

But I can't deny that something filters in to me. Something makes me feel like I'm missing out. Perhaps it's to do with being alone. Too wrapped up in me. It's a time of year with too many days off, too much time to reflect. I get blue, no doubt about it.

And this year I ended up arguing with someone I care about more than anyone on this planet. Someone I love and love very deeply. A stupid pointless argument and I'm not even sure why I did it. Except, perhaps, to get his attention. I think that might have been it. I was so jealous of other people getting a bigger piece of him than I knew I would over the holidays, even though they deserve more of him than I do. So I picked a fight about something that shouldn't even matter to me. And I could feel myself doing it, but I was unable to stop. He shouted at me at one point and that's probably what broke through to me because I remember going very, very quiet and just listening to him. Having no argument, because there was no argument. Yes, I think my silly, petty jealousy was behind it.

And he, in his caring way, has found time to spend with me during the busy holidays, has made time for me in so many ways. And that's one of the reasons I love him so very much. Because he can see through me, he can see the potential of me. And he cares so very deeply about my feelings - it was important to him to make my alone days, less alone. He knows how to, and does, support me on so many levels. He knows how to, and does, love the promise of a better me, as well as the me of today. Actually, he will play a big part in the better me, that I know without a doubt.

I'm learning, still learning. Learning always and in all ways. And best of all, learning with him and through him.

Tagged!!!

Tagged by Freebird.

Updated: Duh I forgot to put the instructions in, thank goodness the three I tagged have more brain power than I do and managed to work it out *L*

1. Grab the book closest to you, don't choose.
2. Open to page 123, go down to the fifth sentence.
3. Post the text of the next three sentences on the blog.
4. Name the book and the author.
5. Tag three people.

OK here goes:

"then a sexy kiss; afterward, sit next to him on the couch and put

your legs on his lap. Later, initiate some passionate kissing - most

men won't need more than that to take things from there."

and the book is:



It gets better, further into the 388 pages!!!

Sadly, there have been men in my life who pushed my legs off their lap and turned away from any attempts at kissing. I'm so incredibly happy to report that my love is the opposite, he actually pulls my legs onto his lap and kisses me like I've never been kissed before.

This book remains under my bedside table only because they tend to gather there until the space is full. He brings to me, more than any book could ever even begin to explain.

If you feel like it....would Steve, Sunny Delight and LePhare like to give it a shot (unless you've already been tagged!)

PC Holiday Greetings

I got this from my ex boss.

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice (with respect for the religious /secular persuasions and /or traditions of others or their choice not to practice such traditions at all).

Furthermore, I offer my (non-binding) best wishes for the onset of the generally accepted calendar year of 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped improve the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. (This is not to imply that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is any greater than any other country). These wishes are offered without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, choice of computer platform or sexual preference of the wishee.

Happy (if happiness is in your belief system) Holidays (if you recognise them).


.....or as we say in these parts

聖誕節同新年快樂
(singdaanjit tùnhg sànnìhn faailohk)

Mis en Place

I've been working steadily over the past few months on one of my annual projects - our salary reviews.

First I gather country/city data for cost of living increases, then examine competitor data from surveys. Using this, we get a base-line increase/adjustment figure for each location and then position. That information in hand, we look at retention of profit on our bottom line and tweak a little where we can to ensure our primary responsibility of returning a positive dividend to our shareholders is met.

Detailed worksheets with complex formulae and look-up tables peppered throughout are generated and these form the basis of the next step - going through the rigmarole of various approval levels as required by our compliance processes. Once we've done that, it's time for the communication to staff. I've managed, over the years, to convince management to reduce that letter from one very full page of way too many words, to a couple of brief and to-the-point paragraphs advising of the new compensation level and concluding with a nicety about their contribution in the past year and looking forward to the same in the next. In reality I could write: "Dear (name), You will receive $.... from 1 January 2007, signed HR" and that would suffice because really the only thing one looks at is the number!!

Form letters are drafted, field-linked to the data sheets, merged, printed, signed, copied. Then happily stuffed into waiting envelopes and presented to each employee before Christmas. Usually there is at least a semblance of appreciation, though it is quite incredible just how quickly any monetary reward is forgotten and if the other 'hygiene factors' aren't taken care of, dissatisfaction will soon rear its ugly head.

So, my mis en place is ready. Today I'll be doing a final check, no doubt make a few last-minute adjustments, there are always those, then press that button to mail merge. By this evening, one big project for the year is off my plate. And hopefully, tomorrow, more than a few people will be happy, if only for a fleeting moment.

Then I can relax, just a little, before the next biggie starts to raise its head...the annual bonus, which is tied to so many things: profit retention, share price, quality inspections, personal performance.

Kaaaaaaaa-Ching!!!

Mind Boggling!!

Reported on Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016) went all out at a land auction Tuesday, shelling out HK$1.8 billion (equiv USD 231,496,367 and GBP 117,428,293) for a prime luxury residential site on The Peak, and in the process beating market forecasts and smashing the previous record price per-square-foot set in 1997.

The accommodation value of the site at 12 Mount Kellett Road translates into HK$42,196 per square foot (equiv USD 5,426 and GBP 2,752), based on the site's developable gross floor area of 42,658 square feet.

Sun Hung Kai Real Estate Agency executive director Victor Lui Ting said the group would invest an additional HK$2.5 billion (equiv USD 321,514,792 and GBP 163,064,858) to develop about 10 houses on the site.

Vigers Appraisal & Consulting executive director Tony Chan Tung-ngok said the final price was astonishing. "It may be the highest price per square foot in the world," Chan said.

After spending more than HK$42,000 (equiv USD 5,401 and GBP 2,739) per square foot for the land, plus construction costs, Lam reckoned the developer would need to sell the finished homes at a target of HK$60,000 (equiv USD 7,717 and GBP 3,912) per square foot in order to realize a profit.

..... and they'll be snapped up and probably achieve another world record in the end. Madness.

Elusive Sleep

I don't know what's wrong with me but I just can't sleep lately. Last night I woke at 3:45am, the night before 3:30am and the night before that 3:20am. Which is fine over the weekend but when I have to come to work after only a couple of hours of sleep (because I don't go to sleep ever before 12:30am at the EARLIEST), it's kind of rough on me for the first few hours.

So far today (and not even 9:30am yet) I've had a

grande latte with:

shots

then..... and

I think I'll be bouncing off the ceiling in a little while....and I am craving another diet coke already!!!

Update at 11:15am..... cracking another diet coke....yeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaw

I wonder if it would be a bad idea to hit the Red Bull at lunchtime? I've consumed 536.8 mg of caffeine already!!!

No Red Bull at lunchtime, just another of these.

New caffeine count 581.4 mg!!

Will I ever sleep again??

Goose and Gander

Today we're off for our department pre-Christmas lunch. No turkey for us, we've opted for superb roast goose!

(Sorry, about the picture, they have it split on the website and I don't have the wherewithal to piece it back together again, but I'm sure from that you get the idea.)

Excellent food. And to tempt your tastebuds this is the menu. We'll be having a good old feast and there will definitely be at least one goose on the table! But no shark's fin, nope nope nope.

Update - we had:

Preserved Eggs with Ginger

Roast Goose

Congee (rice porridge) - I had mine with beef slices

Dao Miu (pea shoots)

Braised Beancurd with Assorted Meat

Baked Spare Ribs

Egg Custard Tarts

YUMMY - got to love Asian-style eating where you share everything.

Just to make Emily drool some more - Updated 20 December - today for lunch we had traditional Cantonese dim sum:

Rice paste rolls with shrimp

Barbeque pork steamed buns

Barbeque pork in pastry

Steamed chicken feet with rice

Steamed sliced fish with rice

Tripe in black pepper sauce

Shrimp dumplings

Chive dumplings

Roast pork with crackling

Pork dumplings

Beancurd sheet rolls

Taro puffs

Chive dumplings

Shrimp rolls

Vegetarian Beancurd rolls

Deep fried squid tentacles

and we ended it with

Steamed sponge pudding

Egg tarts

There were six of us chowing down!!

My Little Corner of the Corporate World

Once upon a time, I had my own little office. With a door I could close and even lock. With blinds across the glass 'wall' I could draw if needed. Where I could deal with work and people away from prying eyes and listening ears. Where I had a Klee print on the wall and an eastern rug on the floor. I loved my little 'home away from home'. Well, as someone who spends at least 14 hours a day at work, I wanted to make my environment warm and inviting.

But, since we did a total revamp of our offices (we have two complete floors in the building) over a year ago, I now have a little space within a large space. No walls. No blinds. No doors. So much more 'corporatey'. In my line of work, it really does make things difficult at times for me and the worst part is that fewer people now come to see me. If they do want time with me, we have to find a meeting room. It puts them off making the effort. I know it prevents me doing my job as effectively as I once did it.

Oh well, the corporate world in its infinite wisdom decided to 'open up communication'. Which is fine and dandy but I'm sure I don't want the rest of the people I work with to know what compensation package I'm offering a new manager. Nor do those who seek me out to talk about personal issues, really care to share it with everyone within hearing distance!

So, this is my little space now. Well part of it, there's a little more than in these pics. The main area of my desk is to the left, but that day, as always, it was covered in work files so I just took a pic of the more interesting part. And I have more work surfaces behind and to the side of me. It's a nice little area, and I've made it so noone can sneak up on me, giving me time to cover sensitive information be it on the screen or on my desk. It's amazing how eyes wander when people are in my work area!

And this in particular is the 'me' part. Where I surround myself with people I care about. My dad, Nooj and her family, Lupo. Yes, Lupo is 'people' to me!! Our official policy is no more than two personal photographs to be displayed. Yeah right, as you can see I follow THAT rule!! Actually one of the hats I wear is that of office manager so I'm supposed to enforce such anal regulations. And which I refuse to do.

Rhona sent me these for my birthday - I love them!!! And if they ever do try to enforce this two-photos-only rule, well I can have at least four as I'm still entitled to have a mousepad and a mug....

So now you know where I spend most of my waking hours. And from where I so very often write these little missives.

Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa

My fault, my most grievous fault.

In my recent travels through blogland, I'm seeing more than a few instances of mea culpa being expressed. And in some places there has been the laying of blame. I'm now stopping to think a little about it all.

Mea culpa. My fault. More than my responsibility, my FAULT. An invitation to apportion blame? Do they go hand in hand in more ways, to a greater depth, than we sometimes realise?

In one of my past relationships, I was with a man who blamed. He blamed his father, he blamed his mother, he blamed his sisters, he blamed his son. He blamed the world. But most of all he seemed to blame me. For his losses, for his bad decisions, for his weaknesses - all of which occurred before we even got together!

And for too long, I let him think that by blaming me, and me accepting that in some weird way I could have been responsible for events that weren't even in our past, things could somehow make more sense for him. The strange thing was, that the one person who really had been instrumental in his losses and his sadness, survived it all totally blame-free.

Then too, thinking back to my mum and dad and their daily interaction, makes me wonder. I know they weren't particularly happy together. No wait, my dad wasn't particularly happy, but my mum was content with what she had and knew my dad would never leave her. I think that is at the root of the play that developed between them in later life. An example would be: Dad accidentally knocks something off the coffee table. Immediately, he'd look over at her and say something to the effect of "for christ sake woman" even though my mum had absolutely nothing to do with what just happened. We used to laugh about it but in recent years, upon reflection, I have come to see it as probably one of the saddest things I've ever witnessed. How deeply ingrained must the resentment have been, that his first thought when something went wrong was, it must be her fault in some way.

My dad was a good man. No, more than that, he was an exceptional man. Except for that one thing. And I suppose I'm only now realising how unhappy he was, how trapped he felt. And maybe, just maybe my mum's responses to things today are because of how she, too, must have felt for so many years, knowing he was there with her not out of love but out of some sort of obligation.

I don't blame my mother for anything. Likewise, I don't blame some of the people who have been in my life, not for the pain they put me through, nor the demons they deposited into my psyche. I did for a long time, I even allowed professionals to make me think I needed to confront and blame. The reality of it all is that I am the only one who needed to make peace with myself. To understand that bad things can happen through no fault of my own.

Everyone, and everything, I have encountered on my life's path has been there for a reason. Who I have become, the lessons I have learned, these are the reasons. I am where, and who, I have always meant to be.

No mea culpas, no laying of blame.

Why Does She Do This To Me?

"I've given you power of attorney. My lawyer will send you the papers to sign. It means you will have control over everything, so don't deplete my bank account."

And I'm like....what?!?!?!?

I gently explained that I would never do such a thing, that I respect my father's wishes and will do everything in my power to see them followed through. That I would NEVER take something that's not mine. She knows me better than that. Why does she have to say such things? For goodness sake, she's given me this responsibility instead of my older brother, for the very reason she knows I'm more trust-worthy.

Then she tells me that I will be the one to make the decision on when to "pull the plug". Whoah there woman. No. I told her that she is quite capable now, of making her wishes known in that respect.

Does she wish to be put on a ventilator when that time comes? Decide now.

Would she want resuscitation if she goes into cardiac arrest? Decide now.

I told her I will make sure her wishes are observed, but I will not make the decisions for her. That she is able to put things into place now to document her choices.

I used the opportunity to open up a discussion about what she would like with regard to her final resting place. As, when my dad died, there seemed to be four different versions of what he wanted, depending on whom you spoke with. She said to me: "Just put me in the fire and tell them to get rid of the ashes."

Yes, I know, I know, she's obviously at odds with herself with the inevitabilty of her own situation. I know that I need to consider so many things that she is facing. But I was aghast. So I said, would you like me to bring you back to where Dad is? To which I got - I don't want any of that pallaver. I assured her I would do it quietly. I would even do it myself. I would do that for her. "No" was her answer.

It seems I'm supposed to tell the undertaker: Burn her and dump the ashes. Does she see me in that light? Capable of doing that?

My mother continues her battle, daily, with lung cancer and COPD. She has chosen not to undergo any treatment. She resists even palliative care, surrounds herself with, although well-meaning, sycophants. She presses them into arguing with me when I try to talk to her about the reality of her situation. Actually she's chosen to chase her own death. Her cigarette consumption is up. She misrepresents how she feels and what she is capable of, physically, to her doctors, making it hard for them to help her effectively. I know, I get the reports. She authorised their release to me, so she's aware I read her lies. She tries to engage me in arguments about it. I refuse to be drawn into them.

I'm trying so hard to help her towards the end gently, with all the support I can give her. I'm trying to be a good and true daughter. Why the hell can't she be a loving mother, even now?

The State of Play

There they sit, warm, heavy, full. So soft and pliant to the touch, so incessantly squeezable.

I love to run my fingertips lightly over them, hearing those soft sighs my touch elicits. I'm fascinated by the way his skin responds to my fingers. Crinkling into a tightness that he must feel, his own flesh pulling him up into his body. Going from soft and smooth to a tougher, hide-like texture full of ridges and bumps.

They respond much as parts of me respond, going from warm and soft, to cool and hard. Shrinking into a mass of nerve endings so hungry for contact. We spend long, long periods of time quietly touching and caressing. Stroking and squeezing. Hands and mouths discovering and mapping each other.

He told me on the phone last night how he loves the touch of my fingertips right there. But I wonder if he realises just how much my fingertips crave him. How I ache to feel that particular part of his beautiful body.

In The Deep

~ the video ~

thought you had
all the answers
to rest your heart upon.
but something happens
don't see it coming,
now you can't stop yourself.

now you're out there swimming
in the deep.
in the deep.

life keeps tumbling your heart in circles
till you... let go
till you shed your pride and you climb to heaven
and you throw yourself off.

now you're out there spinning
in the deep.
in the deep.
in the deep.
in the deep.

now you're out there spinning
now you're out there swimming
in the deep.
in the deep.
in the deep.
in the deep.

the full version goes on with....

In the silence,
all your secrets
will raise their weary heads.
well, you can't pin yourself
back together with
who you thought you were

now you're out there living
in the deep.
in the deep.
in the deep.
in the deep

now you're out there spinning
now you're out there swimming
now you're out there spinning
in the deep.
in the deep.
in the deep.
in the deep.

if you want to be given everything,
give everything up

Texas Beef, Cold Stone Creamery...and Being TOO Cute Together

I'm back. And it was even better than the last trip. I didn't think that was possible, but it was. And the next will be even better.

When you are with someone who constantly validates you, who constantly makes you feel loved, who constantly cherishes every moment with you - and when you do that for each other, my god it's just amazing, it's beyond description.

And it shows.

On our last evening together we went and ate steaks, HUGE slabs of chargrilled prime Texas beef, followed by the most amazing concoctions from Cold Stone Creamery. We sat eating dinner, as usual both on the same side of the booth, laughing, smiling, talking, touching each other's face, gentle kisses, fingers stroking hands, arms, legs. Just how we always are together.

Then, we walked from the restaurant to the ice cream place and one of the waitresses from the restaurant (and no, not one who'd served us) was on her break and as we passed by, arms around each other, smiling and talking, she said to us, with a huge smile:

"You guys are just TOO cute together"

So there you have it folks, an unsolicited comment that he and I are TOO cute together *L*.

Well hell, we are!!

Up, Up and Away.....Again

I'm leaving today, off to earn some more air miles and be with someone so very special. That is NOT in the order of priority I assure you.

It will be quiet around here until Friday, at which time I'll be home again. No doubt battling jetlag, but hopefully not another dose of the flu.

Be safe and be happy everyone.

*Drawing the curtains and turning out the light for a few days*

Skips off happily!!!!

From Desiderata.....To Desiderata Too

Desiderata

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 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 as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly 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 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,
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 with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

~ Written by Max Ehrmann, 1927 ~


Updated for our modern lives:

Desiderata Too

Don't go placidly amid the apathy and lethargy. Remember that your silence is consent and there can be no peace where there is injustice.

You can't please all the people all the time, so shout your truth from the mountain top and don't accept nonsense from the bigoted, the ignorant and the self-serving.

Don't avoid people who are upset. They may have good reasons and your care and interest may make them less aggressive.

Be tolerant of the diversity that makes everyone special and be aware that there are no persons greater or lesser than yourself.

Don't live in the past or future. Enjoy the present.

Don't become obsessed by your own career. It cannot give you security or possession of anything or anyone.

Exercise trust in your dealings but be circumspect, as the world is full of materialists.
Become yourself. Express affection for all people and all species.

Be sceptical about romance for it is as transient as a summer flower.

Don't become tired in your ways and never surrender your sense of wonder. Don't be defensive. Be optimistic and imaginative.

Fatigue and loneliness are born of fear. Be rigorous in accepting responsibility for your actions and their consequences.

You are a child of your less than perfect parents and like the trees and the stars your time will pass. And whether or not it is clear to you, things are not working out nearly as well as they could.

Whatever you conceive God to be, also be aware that every single thing you do actually changes the world. Dreams cannot be broken and they will give you no peace if you don't act with integrity.

Unfortunately, this world is becoming uglier each day.

Be brave.

Strive for the right of all people to make their own paths.

~ Found in a South Australian kitchen.
Andrew Bunney, Copyright 1992 ~