The Train Of Life
Some folks ride the train of life looking out the rear,
Watching miles of life roll by and marking every year.
They sit in sad remembrance of wasted days gone by,
And curse their life for what it was and hang their head and cry.
But I don’t concern myself with that, I took a different vent,
I look forward to what life holds and not what has been spent.
So strap me to the engine, as securely as I can be,
I want to be out on the front, to see what I can see.
I want to feel the winds of change, blowing in my face,
I want to see what life unfolds, as I move from place to place.
I want to see what’s coming up, not looking at the past,
Life’s too short for yesterdays, it moves along too fast.
So if the ride gets bumpy, while you are looking back,
Go up front, and you may find, your life has jumped the track.
It’s all right to remember, that’s part of history,
But up front’s where it’s happening, there’s so much mystery.
The enjoyment of living is not where we have been,
It’s looking ever forward to another year and ten.
It’s searching all the byways, never should you refrain,
For if you want to live your life, you gotta drive the train.
By Marv Hardin
Some folks ride the train of life looking out the rear,
Watching miles of life roll by and marking every year.
They sit in sad remembrance of wasted days gone by,
And curse their life for what it was and hang their head and cry.
But I don’t concern myself with that, I took a different vent,
I look forward to what life holds and not what has been spent.
So strap me to the engine, as securely as I can be,
I want to be out on the front, to see what I can see.
I want to feel the winds of change, blowing in my face,
I want to see what life unfolds, as I move from place to place.
I want to see what’s coming up, not looking at the past,
Life’s too short for yesterdays, it moves along too fast.
So if the ride gets bumpy, while you are looking back,
Go up front, and you may find, your life has jumped the track.
It’s all right to remember, that’s part of history,
But up front’s where it’s happening, there’s so much mystery.
The enjoyment of living is not where we have been,
It’s looking ever forward to another year and ten.
It’s searching all the byways, never should you refrain,
For if you want to live your life, you gotta drive the train.
By Marv Hardin
Gladness
The world has brought not anything
To make me glad to-day!
The swallow had a broken wing,
And after all my journeying
There was no water in the spring, -
My friend has said me nay.
But yet somehow I needs must sing
As on a luckier day.
Dusk falls as gray as any tear,
There is no hope in sight!
But something in me seems so fair,
That like a star I needs must wear
A safety made of shining air
Between me and the night.
Such inner weavings do I wear
All fashioned of delight!
I need not for these robes of mine
The loveliness of earth,
But happenings remote and fine
Like threads of dreams will blow and shine
In gossamer and crystalline,
And I was glad from birth.
So even while my eyes repine,
My heart is clothed in mirth.
By Anna Hempstead Branch
Anna Hempstead Branch was born on 18 March 1875 in New London, Connecticut, United States of America. She became a poet. Anna Hempstead Branch passed on at 62 years of age on 8 September 1937 in New London, Connecticut, United States of America.
The world has brought not anything
To make me glad to-day!
The swallow had a broken wing,
And after all my journeying
There was no water in the spring, -
My friend has said me nay.
But yet somehow I needs must sing
As on a luckier day.
Dusk falls as gray as any tear,
There is no hope in sight!
But something in me seems so fair,
That like a star I needs must wear
A safety made of shining air
Between me and the night.
Such inner weavings do I wear
All fashioned of delight!
I need not for these robes of mine
The loveliness of earth,
But happenings remote and fine
Like threads of dreams will blow and shine
In gossamer and crystalline,
And I was glad from birth.
So even while my eyes repine,
My heart is clothed in mirth.
By Anna Hempstead Branch
Anna Hempstead Branch was born on 18 March 1875 in New London, Connecticut, United States of America. She became a poet. Anna Hempstead Branch passed on at 62 years of age on 8 September 1937 in New London, Connecticut, United States of America.
MISTAKES - An Acronymic Explanation to Help Keep Mistakes in Perspective
M - Messages that give us feedback about life.
I - Interruptions that should cause us to reflect and think.
S - Signposts that direct us to the right path.
T- Tests that push us toward greater maturity.
A - Awakenings that keep us in the game mentally.
K - Keys that we can use to unlock the window of opportunity.
E - Explorations that let us journey where we’ve never been before.
S - Statements about our development and progress.
By Author Unknown
M - Messages that give us feedback about life.
I - Interruptions that should cause us to reflect and think.
S - Signposts that direct us to the right path.
T- Tests that push us toward greater maturity.
A - Awakenings that keep us in the game mentally.
K - Keys that we can use to unlock the window of opportunity.
E - Explorations that let us journey where we’ve never been before.
S - Statements about our development and progress.
By Author Unknown
Opportunity
With doubt and dismay you are smitten
You think there’s no chance for you, son?
Why, the best books haven’t been written
The best race hasn’t been run,
The best score hasn’t been made yet,
The best song hasn’t been sung,
The best tune hasn’t been played yet,
Cheer up, for the world is young!
No chance? Why the world is just eager
For things that you ought to create
Its store of true wealth is still meager
Its needs are incessant and great,
It yearns for more power and beauty
More laughter and love and romance,
More loyalty, labor and duty,
No chance - why there’s nothing but chance!
For the best verse hasn’t been rhymed yet,
The best house hasn’t been planned,
The highest peak hasn’t been climbed yet,
The mightiest rivers aren’t spanned,
Don’t worry and fret, faint hearted,
The chances have just begun,
For the Best jobs haven’t been started,
The Best work hasn’t been done
By Berton Braley
Berton Braley was born on 29 January 1882 in Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America. He became a local newspaper reporter in Butte, Montana and in New York City, New York. He later worked as an international correspondent in Europe and Asia for several newspapers and magazines. During his lifetime, he was a well-known writer and poet. Berton Braley passed on at 83 years of age on 23 January 1966 in Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States of America.
With doubt and dismay you are smitten
You think there’s no chance for you, son?
Why, the best books haven’t been written
The best race hasn’t been run,
The best score hasn’t been made yet,
The best song hasn’t been sung,
The best tune hasn’t been played yet,
Cheer up, for the world is young!
No chance? Why the world is just eager
For things that you ought to create
Its store of true wealth is still meager
Its needs are incessant and great,
It yearns for more power and beauty
More laughter and love and romance,
More loyalty, labor and duty,
No chance - why there’s nothing but chance!
For the best verse hasn’t been rhymed yet,
The best house hasn’t been planned,
The highest peak hasn’t been climbed yet,
The mightiest rivers aren’t spanned,
Don’t worry and fret, faint hearted,
The chances have just begun,
For the Best jobs haven’t been started,
The Best work hasn’t been done
By Berton Braley
Berton Braley was born on 29 January 1882 in Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America. He became a local newspaper reporter in Butte, Montana and in New York City, New York. He later worked as an international correspondent in Europe and Asia for several newspapers and magazines. During his lifetime, he was a well-known writer and poet. Berton Braley passed on at 83 years of age on 23 January 1966 in Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States of America.
True Freedom
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk being called sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk showing your true self.
To place your ideas and your dreams before a crowd is to risk being called naive.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair, and to try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.
Chained by things that are certain, he is a slave.
He has forfeited his freedom.
Only the person who risks is truly free.
By William A. Ward
William Arthur Ward was born on 17 December 1921 in Louisiana, United States of America. He became a Private in the United States Army in 1942 and left the military four years later as a Captain. He then attended McMurry University before eventually receiving a Master’s Degree from Oklahoma State University. William Arthur Ward was the writer of the column “Pertinent Proverbs” in the Fort Worth “Star-Telegram” newspaper, author of the book “Fountains of Faith” (1970), and the writer of more than 100 articles and poems that were published in magazines including “Reader’s Digest,” “The Christian Home,” and “Sunshine.” He was an editor, teacher, public speaker, college administrator, pastor, and served on the board of directors for several nonprofit organizations. He is perhaps best remembered as one of America’s most quoted writers of inspirational maxims. William Arthur Ward passed on at 72 years of age on 30 March 1994.
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk being called sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk showing your true self.
To place your ideas and your dreams before a crowd is to risk being called naive.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair, and to try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.
Chained by things that are certain, he is a slave.
He has forfeited his freedom.
Only the person who risks is truly free.
By William A. Ward
William Arthur Ward was born on 17 December 1921 in Louisiana, United States of America. He became a Private in the United States Army in 1942 and left the military four years later as a Captain. He then attended McMurry University before eventually receiving a Master’s Degree from Oklahoma State University. William Arthur Ward was the writer of the column “Pertinent Proverbs” in the Fort Worth “Star-Telegram” newspaper, author of the book “Fountains of Faith” (1970), and the writer of more than 100 articles and poems that were published in magazines including “Reader’s Digest,” “The Christian Home,” and “Sunshine.” He was an editor, teacher, public speaker, college administrator, pastor, and served on the board of directors for several nonprofit organizations. He is perhaps best remembered as one of America’s most quoted writers of inspirational maxims. William Arthur Ward passed on at 72 years of age on 30 March 1994.
On File
If an unkind word appears,
File the thing away.
If some novelty in jeers,
File the thing away.
If some clever little bit
Of a sharp and pointed wit,
Carrying a sting with it
File the thing away.
If some bit of gossip come,
File the thing away.
Scandalously spicy crumb,
File the thing away.
If suspicion comes to you
That your neighbor isn’t true
Let me tell you what to do
File the thing away.
Do this for a little while,
Then go out and burn the file.
By John Kendrick Bangs
John Kendrick Bangs was born on 27 May 1862 in Yonkers, New York, United States of America. He became a writer, a satirist, an editor, and a lecturer. John Kendrick Bangs passed on at 59 years of age on 21 January 1922 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States of America.
If an unkind word appears,
File the thing away.
If some novelty in jeers,
File the thing away.
If some clever little bit
Of a sharp and pointed wit,
Carrying a sting with it
File the thing away.
If some bit of gossip come,
File the thing away.
Scandalously spicy crumb,
File the thing away.
If suspicion comes to you
That your neighbor isn’t true
Let me tell you what to do
File the thing away.
Do this for a little while,
Then go out and burn the file.
By John Kendrick Bangs
John Kendrick Bangs was born on 27 May 1862 in Yonkers, New York, United States of America. He became a writer, a satirist, an editor, and a lecturer. John Kendrick Bangs passed on at 59 years of age on 21 January 1922 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States of America.
The Goal
There is one thing nobly worth while,
Though the parrots chatter and scream,
Though the critics howl and the cynics smile,
And life seems a mocking dream.
There is one thing that grandly counts,
In the face of the tempting glare,
In the tempests of doubt on the lonely mounts,
In the thickets of thorny care.
And that’s to hold the truth!
To abide with justice and right,
To be a man in genuine sooth*,
With Heaven’s invincible might.
There are bowers of beauty and love,
There are trumpets of lordly fame,
There are pleasures below and blessings above
That flash with a lifting flame.
Let them flaunt their allurements high,
Let them beckon and call and cajole;
There is only one worth in the Earth and the sky,
And that is an honest soul.
By Author Unknown
*sooth: truth
There is one thing nobly worth while,
Though the parrots chatter and scream,
Though the critics howl and the cynics smile,
And life seems a mocking dream.
There is one thing that grandly counts,
In the face of the tempting glare,
In the tempests of doubt on the lonely mounts,
In the thickets of thorny care.
And that’s to hold the truth!
To abide with justice and right,
To be a man in genuine sooth*,
With Heaven’s invincible might.
There are bowers of beauty and love,
There are trumpets of lordly fame,
There are pleasures below and blessings above
That flash with a lifting flame.
Let them flaunt their allurements high,
Let them beckon and call and cajole;
There is only one worth in the Earth and the sky,
And that is an honest soul.
By Author Unknown
*sooth: truth
Miss Dix’s Dictates For A Happy Life
First. Make up your mind to be happy. Happiness is largely a matter of self-hypnotism. You can think yourself happy or you can think yourself miserable. It is up to you. . . learn to find pleasure in simple things. If you can’t go to the opera, you can turn on the radio. Nail on your face the smile that won’t come off, and after a bit you will find that it comes naturally.
Second. Make the best of your lot. Of course, you’re not everything you want and things are not just right. Nobody is that lucky. Even the most fortunate have a lot of crumpled rose leaves under their forty mattresses of ease. There isn’t a single human being who hasn’t plenty to cry over, and the trick is to make the laughs outweigh the tears.
Third. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t think that everything that happens to you is of world-shaking importance and that somehow you should have been protected from the misfortunes that befall other people. When death robs you of one you love, or you lose your job, don’t demand to know of high heaven why this should happen to you and grow rebellious and morbid over your sorrow. We are never happy until we learn to laugh at ourselves.
Fourth. Don’t take other people too seriously. They are not so much, anyway. Don’t let their criticisms worry you. You can’t please everybody, so please yourself. Don’t let your neighbors set your standards for you. Don’t run into debt trying to keep up with the Joneses, or bore yourself to death trying to be as intelligent as the Highbrows. Be yourself and do the things you enjoy doing if you want to be comfortable and happy.
Fifth. Don’t borrow trouble. You have to pay compound interest on that and it will bankrupt you in the end. It is a queer thing, but imaginary troubles are harder to bear than actual ones. There are none of us who have not lain awake at night petrified with dread of some calamity that we feared might befall us and that we felt would shatter our lives if it should occur. Generally it never happened, but if it did, it was not so bad after all and we survived it without serious injury. Enjoy today and let tomorrow take care of itself. There is no sounder adage than that which bids us not to trouble trouble until trouble troubles us. The only good that worrying ever did anyone was make him thin. It is grand for the figure but hard on the disposition.
Sixth. Don’t cherish enmities and grudges. Don’t keep up old quarrels. Don’t remember all the mean things people have done to you. Forget them. Hate is a dreadful chemical that we distill in our own hearts, that poisons our own souls. It takes all the joy out of life and hurts us far worse than it does anyone else. There is nothing so depressing as having a grudge against someone. Nothing makes a home so miserable as for the family not to be on good terms. Meeting someone you don’t speak to will spoil any party. So if you have an enemy, forgive him and kiss on both cheeks, not for his sake but simply because it is to making you unhappy and uncomfortable to be stirred up in wrath against him.
Seventh. Keep in circulation. Go around and meet people. Belong to clubs. Travel as much as you can. Have as many interests as possible. Have hosts of friends. That is the way to keep yourself cheerful and jolly and thinking that this is the best of all possible worlds.
Eighth. Don’t hold post-mortems. Don’t spend your life brooding over the mistakes you have made or the sorrows that have befallen on you. What is done is done and cannot be changed, but you can have your whole future life in which to make good. Not all the tears can bring back those we have lost, but we can make life miserable for ourselves and those about us by our unavailing weeping. Quit beating upon your breast because you haven’t as much money as you used to have. Don’t be one of those who never get over things. Have the courage to take misfortune on the chin and come up smiling.
Ninth. Do something for somebody less fortunate than yourself. Minister to other people’s trouble and you will forget your own. Happiness is a coin that we keep only when we give it away.
Tenth. Keep busy. That is the sovereign remedy for unhappiness. Hard work is a panacea for trouble. You never saw a very busy person who was unhappy.
By Dorothy Dix
Dorothy Dix is a pseudonym of Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer, who was born on 18 November 1861 in Woodstock, Tennessee, United States of America. She became an advice columnist and a journalist. Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmore passed on at 90 years of age on 16 December 1951 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America.
First. Make up your mind to be happy. Happiness is largely a matter of self-hypnotism. You can think yourself happy or you can think yourself miserable. It is up to you. . . learn to find pleasure in simple things. If you can’t go to the opera, you can turn on the radio. Nail on your face the smile that won’t come off, and after a bit you will find that it comes naturally.
Second. Make the best of your lot. Of course, you’re not everything you want and things are not just right. Nobody is that lucky. Even the most fortunate have a lot of crumpled rose leaves under their forty mattresses of ease. There isn’t a single human being who hasn’t plenty to cry over, and the trick is to make the laughs outweigh the tears.
Third. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t think that everything that happens to you is of world-shaking importance and that somehow you should have been protected from the misfortunes that befall other people. When death robs you of one you love, or you lose your job, don’t demand to know of high heaven why this should happen to you and grow rebellious and morbid over your sorrow. We are never happy until we learn to laugh at ourselves.
Fourth. Don’t take other people too seriously. They are not so much, anyway. Don’t let their criticisms worry you. You can’t please everybody, so please yourself. Don’t let your neighbors set your standards for you. Don’t run into debt trying to keep up with the Joneses, or bore yourself to death trying to be as intelligent as the Highbrows. Be yourself and do the things you enjoy doing if you want to be comfortable and happy.
Fifth. Don’t borrow trouble. You have to pay compound interest on that and it will bankrupt you in the end. It is a queer thing, but imaginary troubles are harder to bear than actual ones. There are none of us who have not lain awake at night petrified with dread of some calamity that we feared might befall us and that we felt would shatter our lives if it should occur. Generally it never happened, but if it did, it was not so bad after all and we survived it without serious injury. Enjoy today and let tomorrow take care of itself. There is no sounder adage than that which bids us not to trouble trouble until trouble troubles us. The only good that worrying ever did anyone was make him thin. It is grand for the figure but hard on the disposition.
Sixth. Don’t cherish enmities and grudges. Don’t keep up old quarrels. Don’t remember all the mean things people have done to you. Forget them. Hate is a dreadful chemical that we distill in our own hearts, that poisons our own souls. It takes all the joy out of life and hurts us far worse than it does anyone else. There is nothing so depressing as having a grudge against someone. Nothing makes a home so miserable as for the family not to be on good terms. Meeting someone you don’t speak to will spoil any party. So if you have an enemy, forgive him and kiss on both cheeks, not for his sake but simply because it is to making you unhappy and uncomfortable to be stirred up in wrath against him.
Seventh. Keep in circulation. Go around and meet people. Belong to clubs. Travel as much as you can. Have as many interests as possible. Have hosts of friends. That is the way to keep yourself cheerful and jolly and thinking that this is the best of all possible worlds.
Eighth. Don’t hold post-mortems. Don’t spend your life brooding over the mistakes you have made or the sorrows that have befallen on you. What is done is done and cannot be changed, but you can have your whole future life in which to make good. Not all the tears can bring back those we have lost, but we can make life miserable for ourselves and those about us by our unavailing weeping. Quit beating upon your breast because you haven’t as much money as you used to have. Don’t be one of those who never get over things. Have the courage to take misfortune on the chin and come up smiling.
Ninth. Do something for somebody less fortunate than yourself. Minister to other people’s trouble and you will forget your own. Happiness is a coin that we keep only when we give it away.
Tenth. Keep busy. That is the sovereign remedy for unhappiness. Hard work is a panacea for trouble. You never saw a very busy person who was unhappy.
By Dorothy Dix
Dorothy Dix is a pseudonym of Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer, who was born on 18 November 1861 in Woodstock, Tennessee, United States of America. She became an advice columnist and a journalist. Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmore passed on at 90 years of age on 16 December 1951 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America.
Be The Best That You Can Be
Be the best that you can be,
Pursue your goals persistently.
Make your fondest dreams come true,
And most of all believe in you.
You’ve overcome where many would fall,
And you stand up again and give it your all.
Your strength and endurance are apparent to me,
Your love, joy, and faith are wonderful to see.
By Author Unknown
Be the best that you can be,
Pursue your goals persistently.
Make your fondest dreams come true,
And most of all believe in you.
You’ve overcome where many would fall,
And you stand up again and give it your all.
Your strength and endurance are apparent to me,
Your love, joy, and faith are wonderful to see.
By Author Unknown
Now Is The Best Time
If you have hard work to do,
Do it now.
Today the skies are clear and blue,
Tomorrow clouds may come in view,
Yesterday is not for you;
Do it now.
If you have a song to sing.
Sing it now.
Let the tones of gladness ring
Clear as song of bird in spring.
Let each day some music bring;
Sing it now.
If you have kind words to say,
Say them now.
Tomorrow may not come your way,
Do a kindness while you may,
Loved ones will not always stay;
Say them now.
If you have a smile to show,
Show it now.
Make hearts happy, roses grow,
Let the friends around you know
The love you have, before they go;
Show it now.
Ty Author Unknown: as published in “The Improvement Era” (1907) magazine, volume 10
If you have hard work to do,
Do it now.
Today the skies are clear and blue,
Tomorrow clouds may come in view,
Yesterday is not for you;
Do it now.
If you have a song to sing.
Sing it now.
Let the tones of gladness ring
Clear as song of bird in spring.
Let each day some music bring;
Sing it now.
If you have kind words to say,
Say them now.
Tomorrow may not come your way,
Do a kindness while you may,
Loved ones will not always stay;
Say them now.
If you have a smile to show,
Show it now.
Make hearts happy, roses grow,
Let the friends around you know
The love you have, before they go;
Show it now.
Ty Author Unknown: as published in “The Improvement Era” (1907) magazine, volume 10
