This moral compass or mantra is hanging in a cheap IKEA frame in in my bathroom and I look at it every time I sit down. I don’t always read it but the other day I made a point of it and I thought it would make a good post. Something for everybody. A reminder of what human beings are capable off. The good part. The part that makes good neighbours, good friends, good politicians. No, maybe that’s one too far. Humans are equipped with extraordinary sensory equipment and instincts. If they would only listen to themselves. Stand still and listen.

Promise yourself…

• To be strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind
• To talk health, happiness, prosperity to every person you meet
• To make all your friends feel that there is something of value in them
• To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true
• To think only the best, to work only for the best and to expect 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 give every living creature you meet a smile
• 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 presence of trouble

‘Those are lofty sentiments,’ Camp said when I showed him the Creed. ‘How is that working out for you so far?’

      ‘I have to admit I probably fail half of these modes of conduct most of the time and the others some of the time but it’s nice to have a ruler or a measure of behaviour to aspire to. I’m trying my best and I feel I’m always in training talking to you.’

      Camp laughed and said: ‘It’s not for me to judge what others do but I can’t help but observe that we have no time for introspection, no time to watch the clouds, no time to just listen to the birds and smell the flowers and when we do have the time, we’re old and the mind wanders back because the future isn’t all that appealing.’

      ‘Still, you have to admit that we feel better about ourselves and the world if we strive to be optimists. I know it’s difficult for hardened cynics like the two of us but if we try to wear a cheerful countenance instead of a scowl and if we at least pretend to look at the sunny side of everything, we’re better off for it.’

      ‘You’re probably right,’ Camp said, ‘being upset by the world around us – which is out of our control – is not helpful. Instead of feeling helpless we should celebrate the good things we have, like the people around us and the improving weather.’

      ‘How do you boys like the summery weather?’ Vicky asked when she came by our table. 

      I thought that it’s going to melt the snow, flood the valleys, start wild fires and dry up our gardens but instead I said: ‘It’s a beauty and I’m happy for the flowers and the bees.’ She gave me a funny look and Camp just chuckled.