Finding Life Advice At Starbucks
I was standing in Starbucks when I saw this list from author Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) hanging from the community board.
I think his advice is as appropriate today as it was over a hundred years ago. I’ve been pretty busy lately, and will likely continue to be for the next few weeks, so this list was a good reminder for me about what’s really important. I particularly love #1 about finding the pleasures in simple things.
Advice On How To Be Happy
From Robert Louis Stevenson
- Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.
- Make the best of your circumstances. No one has everything, and everyone has something of sorrow intermingled with gladness of life. The trick is to make the laughter outweigh the tears.
- Don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t think that somehow you should be protected from misfortune that befalls other people.
- You can’t please everybody. Don’t let criticism worry you.
- Don’t let your neighbor set your standards. Be yourself.
- Do the things you enjoy doing but stay out of debt.
- Never borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than real ones.
- Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish jealousy, enmity, grudges. Avoid people who make you unhappy.
- Have many interests. If you can’t travel, read about new places.
- Don’t hold post-mortems. Don’t spend your time brooding over sorrows or mistakes. Don’t be one who never gets over things.
- Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.
- Keep busy at something. A busy person never has time to be unhappy.