It was rightly said by Sir Winston Churchill that an optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.

The world is sad enough without our woes, so let’s talk happiness. No path is wholly rough; look for the places that are smooth and clear, and speak of those, to rest the weary ear of those so hurt by continuous strain of human discontent, grief and pain.

The world is better off without our uttered ignorance and morbid doubt so let’s talk faith. If we have faith in God, man, or self, let's say so. If not, let's push back upon the shelf of silence all our thoughts, till faith shall come; no one will grieve because our lips are dumb.

The dreary, never-changing tale of mortal maladies is worn and stale, so let’s talk health. We cannot charm, interest, or please by harping on that minor chord-disease. Let’s say that we are well, or all is well with us, and God shall hear our words and make them true.

Keep looking up; remember there is only mud under our feet. Cheerfulness is what greases the axles of the world.  Let's learn from the following words of great men before us: "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not (Ralph Waldo Emerson). God has two dwellings: one in Heaven and the other in a thankful heart (Izaak Walton).  When we know that everything has two sides, let us look at the bright side only (Mahatma Gandhi).

Are you dissatisfied with yourself?  We are often discontented and much dissatisfied that our wish for recognition has not been gratified. We feel that we've been cheated in beauty, charm, and brains, and we dwell upon our "losses", forgetting all our "gains."

The qualities we think we lack make us miserable inside. As we brood on supposed "deficits"  as seen by selfish pride we begin to harbor hatred and envy fills our heart that we do not possess the things that make others "seem so smart." And in our condemnation of the traits that we possess, we magnify our painful plight, sinking deeper in distress.

Oh, Lord, please do forgive us for vanity and pride, for desiring to please the eye of man and not You Who sees inside! Little do we realize how contented we would be if we knew that we are beautiful  when our hearts are touched by Thee!

By Tim Pedrosa