Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-25

wv j. nave heard much about the SIMPLE
wv life and the strenuous life. We have
not heard nearly so much as we
should about the friendly life.
Whether ones life is simple of strenu-
ous-or both simple and strenuous-unless
it be at the same time friendly it is sure to
be unsatisfying This if only because fail
ure to lead a friendly life means failure to
give expression to a primary human instinct
the instinct of sympathy. And instincts
completely denied expression have an un>
pleasant way of tormenting their possessor.
Then, too, there is the circumstance that
when the friendly life is not led the IikeI-
hood is that poisonous, corrOding sentiments
will gradually worm their way into the
mind. In proportion as these become dom
inant the possibility of happiness grows re-
mote and ones health itself may be en-
dangered
Everybody is familiar with the fact Of
business breakdowns." Again and again it
happens that men, in the hey-dey of SEEM
ingIy most successful careers, Unexpectedly
collapse, perhaps never to recover wholly,
or to recover only after long course OF
treatment Sometimes it is nervous col
lapse sometimes the heart kidney, or other
organ is involved.
Commonly the breakdown is attributed to
overwork. 1t seldom is really due to that.
1t may be the result of long-continued
wrong methods of work or unhygienic
habits. Not infrequentIy close study would
show it's real cause is the habitual leading
of a life not characterized by true friend
illness
Under the spur of ambition the hard
working business man has little by little
grown too self-central He gives less and
less thought to the feelings well the
interests of others. He is for himself alone.
This unnatural attitude alienates his fell
lows from him. He is sure to feel and in
some degrees resent the spiritual isolation
thus imposed. Add the perturbing effects Of
the dissatisfaction due directly to his self
ishness, and it is not surprising that there
is in time a weakening of his whole organ
ism with serious symptoms of ill-health.
On the opposite to lead the friendly
life the life of sincere goodwill and SYM
pathy is ones daily contacts, is of positive
tonic value to the organism. Also, inasmuch
as the winning of material success depends
largely on THE esteem in which one is held
by others, it has the further practical sig
nificance of helping to smooth the pathway
of achievement
In other words, common sense itself
should impeI TO the friendly life Yet how
many there still are who remain deaf alike
to this dictate of common sense and to the
more urgent command of their Unborn in
stinct of sympathy.
Perhaps, my reader you are yourself Of
these sadly mistaken folk. If you are rest
less, disconnected, uneasy in mind, there is
indeed the possibility that your life atti-
tude is wrong.
Do a little sef-eXamining If this reveals
that in your personal relationships you are
not as genuinely friendly and sympathetic
as you might be, begin forthwith to cult
vate the precious quality of friendIiness. At
any age you can learn to lead the friendly
life And you must lead it if you would win
your way to happiness.
Copyright, 1920 r..