Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1893-05-24
HOW TO ENJOY LIFE
The Quaint and HomeIy Philosophy q
Being NOn-Expectaut.

The Quaint and HomeIy Philosophy OF
Being NOn-Expectant.
An old gentleman who was noted for
his tranquility and generally quiet and
unruftied temper, was once asked the
secret of his happiness 81 cannot say
that am what one would call happy"
he answered, ''but 1 am-well-'non-
expectant' would probably fit the case
better than any term l could use. 1
think great deal of the unhappiness
of this world comes from expecting i'm
possibilities, therefore l long ago taught
myself to take with thankfulness what
ever came that was not actually evil"
That man lived long and died happy
at good old age More than this, he
was universally respected and loved
and was welcome guest at every fire.
side where he was acquainted. And
this, not alone because he CHANGED to
be agreeable and not troublesome, but
because he always carried with him a
fund of quaint, homely philosophy,
which fitted into the chinks of every
day life and smoothed down rough
places, and so cushioned over the sensi-
tive spots of humanity that the buffet
ing of the world touched them too
gently to hurt. Unhappy or unfortu-
nate man, woman or child never parted
company with him that there was not
more complacent expression on
the troubled countenance and
little CLEAN of comfort and
rest in the heart made sore
by trial and suffering. And yet his
only theory was contained in the
words: well. we'll, child, don't you
expect too much of people and things"
And there were always bit of illustra-
ton, an anecdote, dry joke, a twist of
a word, which emphasized and punctu-
ated his philosophy, and left their i'm
preston on the mind of the listener.
He never INDUCED in what might be
called preaching" but was so full of
homely commonplaces and what he
used to call ''seven-days-in-th e-week
patience" that it was more restful and
refreshing than the most brilliant ora
tory or the most finished discourse.
There are so much health, wealth and
peace of mind in the non-expectant
idea, that one can but wonder that
more attention is not given to the pro-
pagation of it, and more full explana-
tions of its beauties and blessings.
Who has not made preparations for
journey or an excursion with the high
est anticipation filing the mind, with
everything favorable and everybody
apparently bent on having the best
possible time, only to come back bored
and disappointed and almost, If not
quite Disguised? And again, when
starting out on some expedition of
pleasure or business or both, how many
times have we been dragged, as it were
actually forced, by circumstances to go
somewhere or do some necessary thing?
And how often is it that the errand
or visit proves to be one of long-re-
membered events of our lives, result
ing, perhaps, in advantages or profits
never before enjoyed? But most of us
learn nothing from experiences of this
sort We go on in a blind way, some
times relating our happy experiences,
but almost always speaking of them as
such queer circumstances or strange
happenings
We shut our eyes to the fact that all
of this is the result of clearly defined
laws and conditions, that we were in a
non-expectant state and not full of I'M
reasonable hopes and longings; there
fore agreeable things, even those of
minor consequence, gave us the keenest
pleasure.
II, on the other hand, we had started
out expecting to find rything rose
colored, and full of the idea that all
things were to be arranged to suit our
whims and fancies and fit in with our
caprices, the chances are that at the
first turn there would be some break
in the chain of affairs or some unfavor-
able phase would present itself and
throw US into an irritable
mood, which would last for the
rest of the trip 1t is so easy to
be disappointed when once the
mind is made up to the prospect of un-
interrupted pleasure; so easy to let the
brightness of life drift by US while we
grumble about our petty misfortunes.
How much better it would be to curb
our capricious hopes and fancies and
take more reasonable view of things.
1t is unreasonable and silly to imagine
that matters will always go our way.
Indeed when we sit down quietly and
look the situation squarely in the face
we know that they will not do so; for
the course of life is very crooked and
twisted affair, and its paths are full OF
thorns and uneven places, and there
are many obstacles and slippery sleeps
along its line Why, then, is it not
more wise to recognize the fact and &c
calculate accordingly?
To realize the uncertainty of all Of
our plans, and then to take into con
| sideration the fact that the little pleas
ure we derive from life is really al
clear gain, are to have solved the prob
lem of life It will save us many dis
appointments and heartaches if we car
adopt and live up to the motto:
Blessed are they who expect nothing
for they shall never be disappointed. -
N. Y. Ledger.