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 the Gods,
whatever you conceive Them 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 careful.
Strive to be happy.

© 1927 Max Ehrmann

You’ll never see the courage I know
Its colors’ richness won’t appear within your view
I’ll never glow the way that you glow
Your presence dominates the judgements made on you

But as the scenery grows I see in different lights
The shades and shadows undulate in my perception
My feelings swell and stretch I see from greater heights
I understand what I am still to proud to mention, to you

You’ll say you understand
But you don’t understand
You’ll say you’ll never give up seeing eye to eye
But never is a promise and you can’t afford to lie

You’ll never touch these things that I hold
The skin of my emotions lies beneath my own
You’ll never feel the heat of this soul
My fever burns me deeper than I’ve ever shown to you

You’ll say "don’t fear your dreams"
It’s easier than it seems
You’ll say you’d never let me fall from hopes so high
But never is a promise and you can’t afford to lie

You’ll never live this life that I live
I’ll never live the life that wakes me in the night
You’ll never hear the message I give
You’ll say it looks as though I might give up this fight

But as the scenery grows I see in different lights
The shades and shadows undulate in my perception
My feelings swell and stretch I see from greater heights
I realize what I am now too smart to mention, to you

You’ll say you understand
You’ll never understand
I’ll say I’ll never wake up knowing how or why
I don’t know what to believe in
You don’t know who I am
You’ll say I need appeasing when I start to cry
But never is a promise and I’ll never need a lie

From:

Message To Bears – Folding Leaves

I know you say you’re ready to change
But I need to get it down on paper
It’s in your face you’re ready to blame
The first guy in line to catch the train

I’ll save your seat
‘Cause you don’t stand for what you preach

See you with a broken string, tell me what you really mean,
Do you know what you want?
While beating up on yesterday, I was on my rollerblades
Rolling on moving on

It’s time to take the time to create
‘Cause you’re running late the doors are closing
So tip your hat and you might get back
Whatever you need is up ahead
This train won’t stop for anybody to get off

See you with a broken string tell me what you really mean
Do you know what you want?
While beating up on yesterday, I was on my rollerblades
Rolling on moving on
See you with a broken string tell me what you really mean
Do you know what you want?
Do you know, oh no

We got to run with it
It will get better
And that leaves we’re stuck together
Make your mind up
Know what you need to say before you shout at me
So take your seat ’cause standing only wears out feet

See you with a broken string, tell me what you really mean
Do you know what you want?
You’re beating up on yesterday, I was on my rollerblades
Rolling on, moving on
See you with a broken string, tell me what you really mean
Do you know what you want?
Beating up on yesterday, I was on my rollerblades
Rolling on, moving on
Do you know what you want?

A teacher in New York was teaching her class about bullying, and gave them the following exercise to perform. She had the children take a piece of paper, and told them to crumple it up, stamp on it, and really mess it up, but do not rip it. Then she had them unfold the paper, smooth it out, and look at how scarred, and dirty is was. She then told them to tell it they’re sorry. Now even though they said they were sorry, and tried to fix the paper, she pointed out all the scars they left behind. And that those scars will never go away no matter how hard they tried to fix it. That is what happens when a child bullys another child, they may say they’re sorry, but the scars are there forever. The looks on the faces of the children, in the classroom, told her the message hit home. Pass it on, or better yet, if you’re a parent or a teacher, do it with your child/children.