ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON’S ‘DAILY DOZEN’

The most interesting thing about any human being is the values by which he or she lives. Unfortunately, most of us never take the time to sit down and really think through the moral precepts that consciously or unconsciously guide our lives.

The following ‘daily dozen’ constitute the personal creed of writer Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 - 1894):

1. Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.

2. Make the best of your circumstances. No-one has everything and everyone has something of sorrow intermingled with the gladness of life. The trick is to make the laughter outweigh the tears.

3. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t think that somehow you should be protected from misfortunes that befall others.Robert Louis Stevenson

4. You can’t please everybody. Don’t let criticism worry you.

5. Don’t let your neighbour set your standards. Be yourself.

6. Do the things you enjoy doing, but stay out of debt.

7. Don’t borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than actual ones.

8. Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish enmities, grudges. Avoid people who make you unhappy.

9. Have many interests. If you can’t travel, read about new places.

10. Don’t hold post-mortems. Don’t spend your life brooding over sorrows and mistakes. Don’t be one who never gets over things.

11. Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.

12. Keep busy at something. A very busy person never has time to be unhappy.