How To Live (not merely exist . . . )

ByMatthew

“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common — this is my symphony.” – William Henry Channing

Short of similar sentiments from Emerson and Thoreau, this is one of my favorite thoughts on how to live (and not merely exist).

I found it here (#6).

Similar Posts

  • What Do You Want?

    ByMatthew

    If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want go far, you have to go with others – Dale Brown The interesting thing, the truth that is sometimes hard to grasp (and accept) is that just about anything worth working on and having, requires partnership and collaboration. Yes, there are things that you…

  • The Key To Change

    ByMatthew

    Change is a door that can only be opened from the inside. – Terry Neil Any change that doesn’t come from within, that isn’t freely chosen and authentic, is coerced, and will be resisted. Even if one successfully sustains a coerced change, some form/amount of misery will ensue. *  *  * Decide who you want…

  • The “Rules”

    ByMatthew

    While reading this afternoon I came across something interesting: in addition to the Golden Rule (which everyone knows about) and the Platinum Rule (which I learned about in the last couple years, and few know about), there’s the Silver Rule (which hardly anyone knows about, and I didn’t until about 3:00 PM). As we know,…

  • What Are You?

    ByMatthew

    We are what we think. All that we are arises from our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world. – Buddha There’s no greater truth than we are what we think. We become what we think. We never become what we don’t believe we can. What you think? About yourself? Your potential? Your ability?…

  • Do You Score?

    ByMatthew

    The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score. – Bill Copeland No, not that sort of “scoring!” I mean do you know when you’ve accomplished something important? Something of value, to you? Without goals, you won’t know.