A Prescription for Happiness

During the winter months when spring seems so far away, it's easy to sink into a depressive gloom - especially as we are all being deprived of those important doses of Vitamin D from the sun! Of course, a simple solution is to book a few days vacation somewhere warm and top up - But when times are tough financially, it's not always possible.

But don't despair, read the wise words of Robert Louis Stevenson below and you may decide life's not so bad and you will find a way to muddle on til that next vacation arrives!

A Prescription for Happiness

• Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.


• Make the best of your circumstances. No one has everything and everyone has something of sorrow mingled with the gladness of life. The trick is to make the laughter outweigh the tears. Don't take yourself too seriously.


• You can't please everybody: don't let criticism worry you.


• Don't let your neighbour set your standards.


• Do the thing you enjoy doing, but stay out of debt.


• Don't borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than actual ones.


• Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish enmities or grudges.


• Don't hold post-mortems. Don't spend your life brooding over sorrows and mistakes. Don't be the one who never gets over things.


• Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.


• Keep busy at something. A very busy person never has time to be unhappy.

by R L Stevenson