Longest lead-in ever

Desiderata
by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be 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 vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own 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.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

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 dark 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,
no doubt 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.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Today for Wellness Wednesday, we're thinking about making sure our relationships are uplifting and not "vexations to the spirit."

One of my mottos is "Protect what you value," which I often think when I see people on motorcycles without helmets, but applies to many ways we spend our time. Do you value your peace of mind, your self-confidence? Protect them!

Maybe you don't have vexatious relationships, but maybe someone you love does. Other people's choices are generally out of our hands, but I have seen young people make better choices after they become more informed about healthy and unhealthy relationships. Information sharing can be helpful.

How can you tell whether a relationship is healthy? What can be done about it if it isn't? Here are some articles on those topics:

Are the people in your life positive?
7 signs you're in a toxic friendship
13 red flags of potentially toxic friendships
9 relationship red flags you shouldn't be ignoring
6-step life detox to get rid of a bad relationship
5 ways to end a bad relationship
How to move on from unhealthy relationships
Loveisrespect (resources to empower youth to prevent and end dating abuse)

A song about cutting someone loose: