THE CODES I LIVE BY

DEAR READERS:

I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED TO KEEP ONES SANITY IN THE SHIFTING WINDS OF LIFE, YOU NEED A STANDARD TO LIVE BY. A SET OF CODES TO KEEP YOUR BALANCE WHEN LIFE THROWS UP ROAD BLOCKS TO YOUR GOALS AND TO DEFINE WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE TO YOURSELF AND OTHERS. IN HIGH SCHOOL (A HUNDRED YEARS AGO) I FOUND THE WORDS TO DESCRIBE THOSE CODES AND I HAVE TRIED TO LIVE BY THEM SINCE. AS I AM ONLY HUMAN, I HAVE SOMETIMES FAILED TO LIVE UP TO THEM, HOWEVER EVEN NOW I STILL USE THESE WORDS AS MY MEASURING STICK THROUGH LIFE. TODAY I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THEM WITH YOU. I HOPE THESE WILL HELP YOU IN FINDING OUT WHY I BELIEVE IN WHAT I BELIEVE AND WHO AND WHAT I AM, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO DOUBT THE DEPTH OF MY CONVICTIONS.
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CODE ONE: IF
BY RUDYARD KIPPLING

IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR HEAD WHEN ALL ABOUT YOU
ARE LOSING THEIRS AND BLAMING IT ON YOU.
IF YOU CAN TRUST YOURSELF WHEN ALL MEN DOUBT YOU
BUT MAKE ALLOWENCES FOR THEIR DOUBTING TOO.
IF YOU CAN WAIT AND NOT BE TIRED OF WAITING
OR BEING LIED ABOUT, BUT DON'T DEAL IN LIES.
IF YOU CAN BE HATED AND NOT GIVE WAY TO HATING
YET DON'T LOOK TO GOOD, NOR TALK TO WISE.

IF YOU CAN DREAM AND NOT MAKE DREAMS YOUR MASTER.
IF YOU CAN THINK AND NOT MAKE THOUGHTS YOUR AIM.
IF YOU CAN MEET TRIUMPH AND DISASTER,
YET TREAT THOSE TWO IMPOSTERS JUST THE SAME.
IF YOU CAN BARE TO HEAR THE TRUTH YOU HAVE SPOKEN,
TWISTED BY KNAVES TO MKAE A TRAP FOR FOOLS.
IF YOU CAN WATCH THE THINGS YOU GAVE YOUR LIFE TO BROKEN,
AND STOOP AND BUILD THEM UP WITH WORN OUT TOOLS.

IF YOU CAN MAKE ONE HEAP OF ALL YOUR WINNINGS,
AND RISK IT ALL ON ONE TURN OF A PITCH AND TOSS.
IF YOU CAN LOSE AND START AGAIN AT YOUR BEGININGS,
AND NOT BREATH A WORD ABOUT YOUR LOSS.
IF YOU CAN FORCE YOUR HEART AND NERVE AND SINEW,
TO SERVE YOUR TURN LONG AFTER THEY ARE GONE.
IF YOU CAN HOLD ON WHEN THERE IS NOTHING LEFT IN YOU,
EXCEPT THE WILL WHICH SAYS TO THEM "HOLD ON!"

IF YOU CAN WALK WITH CROWDS AND KEEP YOUR VIRTUE,
OR WALK WITH KINGS AND NOT LOSE THE COMMON TOUCH.
IF NEITHER FOES OR LOVING FRIENDS CAN HURT YOU,
IF ALL MEN COUNT WITH YOU, BUT NOT TOO MUCH.
IF YOU CAN FILL THAT UNFORGIVING MINUTE,
WITH SIXTY-SECONDS WORTH OF A DISTANCE RUN.
THAN YOUR IS THE EARTH AND EVERTHING THAT IS IN IT,
AND WHICH IS MORE YOU WILL BE A MAN, MY SON.
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CODE 2) TITLE AND AUTHOR UNKNOWN

GO PLACIDLY AMID THE NOISE AND HASTE, AND REMEMBER WHAT PEACE THERE IS IN SILENCE. AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, WITHOUT SURRENDER, BE ON GOOD TERMS WITH OTHERS. SPEAK YOUR TRUTH CLEARLY AND LISTEN TO OTHERS, EVEN THE DULL AND IGNORANT HAVE THEIR STORY TOO.

AVOID LOUD AND AGRESSIVE PERSONS, THEY ARE VEXATIONS TO THE SPIRIT. IF YOU COMPARE YOURSELF WITH OTHERS, YOU WILL BECOME VAIN AND BITTER, FOR AWAYS THERE WILL BE GREATER AND LESSER PERSONS THAN YOURSELF. ENJOY YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS AS WELL AS YOUR PLANS.

KEEP INTERESTED IN YOUR CAREER, HOWEVER HUMBLE, IT IS A REAL POSSESION IN THE CHANGING FORTUNES OF TIME. EXERCISE CAUTION IN YOUR BUSINESS AFFAIRS, FOR THE WORLD IS FULL OF TRICKERY. LET THIS NOT BLIND YOU TO THE VIRTURES OUT THERE. MANY PERSONS STRIVE FOR HIGH IDEALS, AND EVERYWHERE THE WORLD IS FULL OF HEROISM.

BE YOURSELF, ESPECIALLY, DO NOT FIEGN AFFECTION. NEITHER BE CYNICAL ABOUT LOVE,
FOR IN THE FACE OF ALL ADVERSITY AND DISENCHANTMENT IT IS AS PERENIAL AS THE GRASS.

TAKE KINDLY THE COUNSEL OF YEARS, GRACEFULLY SURRENDERING THE THINGS OF YOUTH. NUTURE STRENGHT OF SPIRIT TO SHIELD YOU IN SUDDEN MISFORTUNE.
DO NOT STRESS YOURSELF WITH IMAGININGS. MANY FEARS ARE BORN OF FATIGUE
AND LONLINESS. BEYOND A WHOLESOME DICIPLINE, BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF.

YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE, NO LESS THAN THE TREES AND THE STARS AND YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HERE. WHETHER OR NOT IT IS CLEAR TO YOU, NO DOUBT THE UNIVERSE IS UNFOLDING AS IT SHOULD.

THERFORE BE AT PEACE WITH GOD, HOWEVER YOU CONCIEVE HIM TO BE. WHATEVER YOUR LABORS AND ASPERATIONS IN THE NOISY CONFUSION OF LIFE, KEEP PEACE WITHIN YOUR SOUL.

WITH ALL THE SHAM, DRUDGERY AND BROKEN DREAMS, IT IS STILL A BEAUTIFUL WORLD. BE CAREFUL. STRIVE TO BE HAPPY.

BAZZO 04/15/06