CHIN UP!

Two words I remember from my childhood but haven't heard for many long years. Perhaps people have forgotten them, which is a pity.

The whole phrase I remember was “keep your chin up” and had nothing to do with the way in which you walked or your posture, but was said to get the listener out of a feeling of doom and gloom. I think it is both a pleasant and a timeless piece of advice to all of us at the moment. It is so easy to wallow (like a hippopotamus) in a muddy pit of misery and it is at such a time when a piece of advice comes to me:

If you have not heard of this writer, I would suggest you have a look at some of his work as it is not only deep and meaningful but also what I would call “a work for the day” – there is a lot one can learn, especially from his first book (and which I totally endorse) “The Road Less Travelled”.

Peck suggests the following as a “road map”:

Delay gratification: sacrifice present comfort for future gains;

Accept responsibility: for the decisions you make;

Be dedicated to truth: deliver honesty in word and deed;
Be balanced: handle conflict and prioritise requirements.

Four steps for a journey from despair (or perhaps misery is a better word) towards enlightenment.

Until next time (and taking steps),

Peripatetic Scribe