Rules to Live By (borrowed edition)

 Lily of the Valley photo by Daawn on Flickr

I read these very true rules on Rosemary's wonderful blog, Content in a Cottage. I encourage you to go check her posts out if you're at all interested in beautiful architecture, simple pleasures (books, chai, and doggies), and gracious living in general. She's also got a pretty good sense of humor!

12 Rules to Live By

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)  

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

-Make the best of circumstances. No one has everything and everyone has something of sorrow.

-Don't take yourself too seriously. 

-Don't let criticism worry you. You can't please everybody. 

-Don't let your neighbors set your standards; be yourself.

-Do things you enjoy doing but stay out of debt.

-Don't borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than actual ones. 

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

-Have many interests. If you can't travel, read about places. 

-Don't hold post-mortems or spend time brooding over sorrows and mistakes. 

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

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