I keep having this recurring thought that we in the United States seem to have a lot of collective angst right now. It is as if everyone is leaning forward, listening intently, ready, waiting, and perhaps in a strange way, relishing the next opportunity to pounce on someone, something, something done or said. Maybe I overstate this. Maybe I am just imposing my own thoughts and feelings on the rest of my fellow Americans. But in any event, that comes to mind as I read the beginning of Max Ehrmann’s Desidrata this morning.
“Go placidly among the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, be on good terms with all persons.”
That opening line “go placidly among the noise and haste,” is such a great line to start off with. There is always, it seems, “noise and haste” to “go placidly” through if one chose to react that way, but it seems that these days I share with many others the inclination to jump into the fray and add to the din. Here, Ehrmann posits that perhaps the better response is to hold the comment, the criticism, the sarcasm I have in my head and on the tip of my tongue, and choose instead to “be on good terms” with those around me. It is not like Ehrmann is suggesting saint-like effort on my part – he gives me the “as far as possible” out. It occurs to me that much in my life and in my relationships is governed how far “as far as possible” is at any given moment.
It occurs to me... 