Best of Travelife 2012: A simple philosophy for living. Just for today.

Life is usually very good for me -- my best friend used to always say I lead "a charmed life." And just three days ago, another equally old friend from school days said exactly the same thing.

I have to agree. I'm luckier than a lot of people. I have to admit this, especially as I'm typing this out from the best suite in the entire Philippines, and, boy, is it pretty fabulous. More on this in a later entry.?

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But back to my luck. Never have I been luckier than this year, perhaps, which was full of simply amazing moments in a Travelife --?and not a few of them were shared with good friends and people close to me.

I'm not one for overly sentimental or emotional writings, but let me share with you a simple and inspiring poem that I came across over 20 years ago.?

A SIMPLE PHILOSOPHY FOR LIFE

I kept this in my wallet for a very long time to remind me of how to live each day as well as possible and how to deal with the arrows of life when they came. I only finally threw it away when I realized I'd imbibed this philosophy so much that I didn't need the piece of paper in my wallet anymore.

If there's one philosophy that has kept me going throughout the year, it's certainly been this. And I intend to live this way into 2013 and basically forever.

Just for today, I will try to live through this day only,

and not tackle all of my life's problems at once.

I can do something for twelve hours

if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

Just for today, I will be happy.

I will remember what Abraham Lincoln once said:

"most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Just for today, I will try to strengthen my mind.

I will study. I will learn something useful.

I will not be a mental loafer.

I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for today, I will adjust myself to what is,

and not try to adjust everything to my own desires.

I will take my "luck" as it comes,

Just for today, I will exercise my soul in three ways:

I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out.

I will do at least two things I don't want to do--just for exercise.

I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt.

They may be hurt, but today I will not show it.

Just for today, I will be agreeable.

I will look as well as I can,

dress becomingly, talk low, act courteously, and criticize not one bit.

I will not find fault with anything

and I will try not to improve or regulate anybody except myself.

Just for today, I will have a program.

I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it.

I will save myself from two pests: hurry and indecision.

Just for today, I will have a quiet half hour all by myself to relax.

During this half hour, I will try to get a better perspective of my life.

Just for today, I will be unafraid.

Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful,

to have faith in the good,

and to believe that as I give to the world,
so the world will give to me. Just for today. In a never-ending, and never-endingly eventful Travelife.

Source: http://www.travelifemagazine.com/2012/12/best-of-travelife-2012-simple.html

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