The Good Life

You did your best. You told your truth. You have your version of enough. You understand wealth -- freedom, people, purpose -- is more important than money. Slow down and let the extraordinary things emerge from the ordinary.

To live content with small means.

To seek elegance rather than luxury,

and refinement rather than fashion.

To be worthy not respectable,

and wealthy not rich.

To study hard, think quietly, talk gently,

act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes,

and sages with open heart, to bear all cheerfully,

do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.

In a word, to let the spiritual,

unbidden and unconscious,

grow up through the common.

This is to be my symphony.

~ William Ellery Channing