On my Fiftieth Birthday (Sunday, September 22, 1918), after a good
day’s work, I start, in the afternoon, to spend the few hours before
our evening meal in writing down some ideas that may help others
(besides myself, who need them as much as anyone, since I am beginning
my second half-century), to indulge less in that habit of fear, worry,
resentment, and hurry, which must be regarded as a form of suicide,
slow indeed, but working in a vicious circle and with self-increasing
force, and poisoning and paralysing others besides the respectable
offenders themselves.
The chief remedy is--keep happy.
We have had our attention so fixed on prohibitions--the “Thou shalt
not” Commandments--that we have, as a Nation, ignored the positive
commandments of the Old and New Testaments; among which a very
frequently repeated one was “Rejoice” or “Keep Happy.” Others, besides
the Master, told us not to worry, not to be afraid, not to be angry,
not to be bitter; but to be glad and happy. The orthodox should
remember that Happiness is a virtue, however unusual, and Non-Happiness
a sin, however common and respectable.
I give one quotation alone--though the usual translation does not
convey the real force of the Greek words of Philippians iv. 4-7:--
“_Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.... The Lord is
at hand. Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God._”
C. D. Larson’s book, “Just be Glad,” was on my table, and gave me the
thought of writing on this subject. Larson offers capital ideas on
the mental side, but he does not tell people _how_ to be glad; and,
especially, he leaves out all the Physical Helps.
In this little Birthday offering, I shall include a few Physical as
well as Mental Helps--a few out of many, since space is limited--so
that readers may be able to keep happy easily.
The art is not new, but--like the habit of deep, full, rhythmical
breathing--is always needed.
There are millions who have scarcely begun to recognise, at least to
the extent of acting upon the facts, that, while their Happiness
itself depends largely upon their digestion, their elimination of waste
matter, their circulation, etc., these influences themselves depend
largely on (1) the choice of foods and drinks, the way of eating and
drinking, the breathing and other exercises, and so forth--and on (2)
the maintenance of Happiness itself, or at least the avoidance of worry
and resentment, etc., and the expression of Happiness, until Happiness
actually is attracted and comes into a prepared nest.