This message, sometimes found on posters and self help books, may have been found in St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, dated 1692, I don't know for sure. Imagine what nonesense it seemed to the Puritans that we have learned about in The Scarlet Letter. Maybe it was a transcendentalist thinker evolving, daring to express a belief that did not follow the social norms.
Whatever it is, my Grandmother, Kathryn Steadham, typed it out and set it on her piano, and there it sat for as long as I can remember. Until she gave it to me. It is timeless and I want to share it with you.
Advice to the Unsure (I've heard it called Desiderata, too)
GO PLACIDLY AMID THE NOISE AND HASTE AND REMEMBER WHAT PEACE THERE IS 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 A VEXATION TO THE SPIRIT.
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. 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, 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.
(Found in St Paul's Church, Batimore, Dated 1692)
