Recipe for a happy life

I've belonged to a listserve for Optimist Club members for about five years. The unofficial service has existed long before that; I think it was established in 1998. Even with that longevity, it hasn't garnered a large following, but it has generated a loyal one.

One of the loyal participants has contributed a daily thought to the forum every day that I can remember. Some I really like, some not so much. Many are sayings that I've heard before, sometimes attributed to different author, but they always do one thing.

These daily quotes make me think and reflect. Several participants randomly respond to her musings when it touches them in a certain way, but I would venture to say that most often the reader does the same as I. They read, think and then delete.

Today I want to share her thought on the Experience Optimism blog. She didn't give attribution to this little poem, but it sounds like a recipe for a happy life. Why not give it a try?

Live without pretending,
Love without depending,
Listen without defending,
Speak without offending.