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 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 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 critical 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 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 careful. Strive to be happy.

© Max Ehrmann 1927

Conectiv…Altogether Better

Around the time I started working for the electric company, the company was undergoing a business transformation of unprecedented proportions. The gist of it was that we were apparently going to conquer the world by getting involved in all kinds of businesses (plumbing & heating, HVAC, telecommunications, internet, etc.)

This was the era in which we were known as “Conectiv”. It was an era of some crazy, flashy marketing. One of these marketing devices was a series of commercials that featured Jason Alexander (yes, really–George Costanza).

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Tumba-bloody-rumba

I have been subscribed to Ashleigh Brilliant‘s newsletter for about a year now and it is always interesting.  (I’ve also syndicated his “Potshot of the Day“.

His latest email, though, had me smiling throughout and also taught me a thing or two.  So I deemed it worthy of a blog post.  (This is obviously a rarity.)

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Caraoke

My friend Don’s (twin) brother apparently enjoys embarrassing his kids as much as I do:

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