Reflections: Disederata

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 clearlyl and listen to others, even to 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 or 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's 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 crucial 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 in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. (c) 1927 Max Ehrmann

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The Disederata has intrigued me the first time a friend of mine mentioned the line "... a child of the universe ..." a few years back. I thought it was sort of like Invictus (Unconquered) by W. E. Henley or If by Rudyard Kipling, both deal mostly with stoicism. Perhaps Disederata also is, but I think it offers a whole lot more.

While the two poems, for me, don't exactly champion resignation to adversity, the short essay takes on conflict with an escapist point of view. The message is clear: ignore adversity. The line "Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit." is I think the best way to describe the essay's escapist tendency.

Actually, in a way I could relate most to this aspect of the essay. I also see no point in keeping emotional baggages in my life, being difficult to live now as it is. It's such a waste of space in the emotional compartment. There are more important things to mind and take care of, and I'd rather devote my life to that than some bothersome thought.

And yet I know that I have to confront my emotions so it won't get the better of me. It's high time for me to reconcile my mind, heart and soul to points in my life that I have left behind unaddressed. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. And I totally agree, and I know the ones that I have to start with in the coming weeks.

A second point of the essay is fatalism. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. It's like saying that no matter what you do, no action could change the fact that the universe has its own course. Sometimes I hate the fact that I am resigned to my fate. I know there is a way to influence my fate so it could advance for the better. The question is how?

On my part I'm still confused as to how I want my life to proceed. It is silly, especially for someone who has lived for almost three decades. But I'm being honest. Be yourself. There are so many matters I want to take care of all the same time, but I find myself not knowing what to do first. Keep interested in your own career, however humble, it's a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Point taken, and it is just like what I have written all these years.

Strive to be happy. Lastly, I guess it is obvious that to be happy, I have to do all that has been written before that line. I know it's hard, but then again, who said life is.