Evening star., 1937-12-21
Self>Pity Is
RuinOuS to
Health
Mental Attitudes
Make for Grief
Or Happiness.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

7 Uc1LLE, in her Junior year in high
school, writes to tell me that she
is very unhappy. Things are set
against her. She stands high in classes,
but what Of it when she has to wear
cheap dresses and make them last a
long time? She cannot have mani
cures and permanents and cosmetics
Nor silk stockings. Nor 60 to many
movies. There is no living room in
her house and she cannot invite other
young people. And they wouldn't
come anyway because they don't like
her. And the teachers don't like her
either. They praise her for good
marks. but they never call her :. pet
name and pat her on the back as she
goes by Is they do to other girls. And
her father and mother are not stylish.
They talk English with an accent and
they wear their clothes badly, such as
they have. Lucille Is deadly unhappy
about it and wants a way out.
To all the Lucilles and Davids who
are In the same boat I would say
that the way to be happy is to be
happy, and I'm not being smart"
about 1t. remember very we'll how
felt when . boy laughed at my new
overcoat, made out of an old one
turned inside out It looked fne, but
the button holes we're on the wrong
cida onl that f,rv,
was mad and offered to punch his
nose. felt pretty bad and it took
all the loving encouragement my
mother could give me to get me to
wear 1t again. And I had been 50
proud OF it. But I did wear it, and
went on about my business. I had to.
That Is what I mean. Get busy.
Instead Of brooding about what you
can't have, like what you have. You
can II you understand about the
things you have. If you remember
how hard your father and mother
work to help you, to give you what will
make you stronger, happier, more sue
cessful materially than they are; If
you just remember how much love
and devotion went into giving you the
things you have, you will like them.
You will love them.
The secret Of glowing happiness is
the power to ook away from yourself
toward other people. When you begin
to feel cheated look to see what you
can do to help somebody close to you.
Maybe an errand, a little help, a
smiling word of appreciation-you
have no idea how much your teachers
will appreciate that word-nor how
much your schoolmates will thank you
for it-anything to drive yourself
out into the lives of others in terms
Of service. Whom you serve you
love-whom you love you serve-and
there lies the greatest happiness.
Your mental attitude Is what makes
for happiness or grief. I know that
you cannot always help that attitude,
but you can try hard to overcome
any shadow that falls upon you. You
can keep pushing out any grudging
thought, any hint of self-pity, any
suggestion Of inferiority. Remember
that in every human being there is a
spark Of divine power and beauty and
that you are no exception. You will
smother the spark by bemoaning your
fate. You will fan it into flame by
holding out your hands to the friendly
people about you.
Health Of body is essential to hap
piness. Attend to that first. It is q
simple routine matter and you know
all about 1t. Sleep, bathe, exercise
work, play and keep guarding you,
thoughts against self-pity. Then you
will never have to think how you car
be happy. You will be the happiest
person abroad.
| (Copyright, 1879