How to be happy though human / by W. Béran Wolfe.

stoic disregard for trifles, and extend your horizons to such a degree that trifles can never affect the even tenor of your pursuit of goals that are worth while. Of Deferred Living One important source of unhappiness is the habit of putting off living to some fictional date in the future. Men and women are constantly making themselves unhappy because in deferring their lives to the future they lose sight of the present and its golden opportunities for rich living. “ When I have a thousand pounds in the bank I’ll go to Egypt.” Why not go to Egypt as inexpensively as possible now, and enjoy life while you are young ? “ When I am thirty-five years old I will marry.” Why not marry now, and have the fun of struggling for some common objective in comradely cooperation with your wife ? “ When I am married, IT1 settle down and do some serious reading.” Why not one good book a month during your celibate days ? 44 If I had more time I’d study interior decoration.” Why not go to fewer films and play less bridge and spend two nights a week studying ? If we defer living too long, unfortunate events frequently spoil our plans and change our aims. Some¬ times we grow so old that our former goals lose their glamour, with the result that we are left high and dry sans objectives, and sans the joy of living. We have often heard disconsolate adults complain, “ Oh, if I had only learned to play the piano when I was young.” While it is my belief that it is never too late to begin anything—and we have ample evidence to prove that we really learn better when we are mature—witness John Stuart Mill beginning the study of Greek at the age of seventy—-most of the excuses people make during their maturity really mask their fear of not reaching a high stage of perfection. And perfection is death. For those who would be happy while they are alive, the importance of developing their curiosity and their