The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-04-29
Thibodaus Sentinel.
HOW TO ENJOY LIFE.

Fl Ola gentleman VINO was nOteu LOT
his tranquility and generally quiet and
unruffled temper, vas once asked the
secret of his happiness Il cannot say
that | am what one would call happy"
he answered, but | am-well-'non-
expectant' would probably fit the case
better than any term | could use. /
think a great deal of the unhappiness
of this world comes from expecting inn
possibilities, therefore Hong ago taught
myself to take with thankfulness what
ever came that was not actually evil"
That man lived long and died happy
at a good old age. More than this, he
was universally respected and loved
n was a 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
gently to hurt. Unhappy or unfortu-
nate man, woman or child never parted
company with him hat there was not
a more complacent expression on
the troubled countenance and a
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, well, child, don't you
expect too much of people and things"
And there were always a bit of illustra-
ton, an a~necdote. a 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 Observation-Disclosures
patience" that it vas more restful and
refreshing than the most brilliant ora
tory br 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 o made preparations for a
journey or an excursion with the high
est anticipation filling 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 TRANCE
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 un-
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 everything 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 %unfayor-
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 a 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 a very crooked and
twisted affairs 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
mt wise to recognize the fact and ia
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 all
clear gain, are to have solved the prob
lem of life. 1t will save us many dis