On Thanksgiving Day and Christmas I am to be found with a large reading pile with no “work” planned.  Just a laid back atmosphere.  For today I have a VCR tape on loan from a friend, a DVD of Daniel Day Lewis’ LINCOLN from the library, an Archer Mayor mystery, a booklet on the Alcott’s ORCHARD HOUSE in Concord, Mass. and a book I have had for 20 years that I found in the shop the other day on THE WAYSIDE HOUSE – next to Orchard House, and home to literary families including the Alcotts, Hawthorne, and Lathrops.  Almost done with the book (published in 1940), but the author included this list of ideals she found amongst her mother’s manuscripts.

I feel it is worthy of sharing — HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY, as always yours RAY

PROMISE YOURSELF

by Harriett Mulford Stone Lathrop – “Margaret Sidney”

author of THE FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk of health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something to them.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about [the] success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times, and to have a smile ready for [every] living creature you meet.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world – not in loud words, but in great deeds.

To live to the faith that the world is on your side as long as you are true to the best that is in you.