Let’s Talk Literature: Desiderata

Hey, y’all! Today I wanted to write about one of my favorite poems: Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. So pull up a chair and let’s talk Desiderata.

Desiderata is Max Ehrmann’s most well-known poem

For those that don’t know who he is, here you go. TL;DR, he was an American writer that primarily wrote poetry. He wrote Desiderata in 1927 but, like with many works of art, it didn’t receive acclaim until after his death. Which to me is a damn shame, cause it’s really one of the most beautiful poems I’ve ever read. The whole thing is amazing, and you can (and should) read it, but I just want to highlight a few points that I empathize with and that strike me.

Silence is important

So I know I talk about the importance of solitude a lot, but it really can’t be overstated. With all of the busyness and movement involved in society, we need to make sure we take time to separate ourselves from everything. It’s one of the few ways to truly rest, but it also gives us a time to reflect and explore our internal world, which is damn near impossible when we’re constantly bombarded by information.

But on the flip side, that solitude allows us the ability to recharge and decompress. Which is really important so that we don’t lose our shit when we’re submerged in the clamor of the every day world. So we have to remember to give ourselves some quiet and some disconnect time so we can be at our best, but also so that we can have some internal peace.

Don’t be afraid to speak, but also be willing to listen

This is one that’s really important. There are tons of people out there that want to be heard, that are willing to speak, but really aren’t trying to hear what anyone has to say. And that’s a problem. How can we learn and grow if we’re always talking? I know that I personally have learned things that I never thought I needed to know by talking to random people. I’m always surprised what people will tell me if I’m just willing to shut up and listen.

That being said: when it’s time to speak, speak. And we have to make sure that we speak the truth, no matter how hard it is. And trust me, the truth is oftentimes inconvenient or harsh. But that’s better than the alternative, in my opinion. But we should never let that or fear drive us into silence. There is a time for everything. So when it’s time to talk, talk.

Be mindful of the company you keep and stay in your lane

I try not to take the first part of this literally, but the implications are staggering. I’ve been trying to work on doing this more over the past year and a half. The main takeaway is this: watch who you hang around. Or more simply, pay attention to your boundaries.

I found that there have been numerous times when I have surrounded myself with people who didn’t align with my values. Or even worse, gave access to myself away to whoever asked. At the end of the day, our time and energy are our most finite and valuable possessions, so we need to protect them at all costs. This means we need to be active participants in allocating those resources and setting boundaries in our lives. TL;DR, if it doesn’t help make you a better or happier person, set a boundary.

But also, we have to learn to stop looking at other people. Unfortunately, society is set up so that we’re constantly bombard by the “way things should be”. Comparing ourselves to others pretty much always ends badly. I know that there have been plenty of times in my life where I have felt completely insignificant in comparison to other people. For absolutely not reason.

At the end of the day, we have no idea what’s going on in other people’s lives. More likely than not, they probably have some crazy ass issues that we would want no part of. But we don’t know because it’s hidden. Life tends to be better and a lot simpler when we stay in our lane.

THIS RIGHT HERE IS MY FAVORITE

I couldn’t even contain my excitement about this part. It has literally saved my life on innumerable occasions. There was a period of time where I read just this stanza to myself on a daily basis. Because it’s easy to forget.

The first part is crucial. Many people have heard the phrase “be kind to yourself”. And this is basically the same thing. The idea is that we can’t beat ourselves up when we screw up. Should we be accountable to ourselves and our ideals? Certainly. But being like “I suck and shouldn’t exist” is not helpful or productive. We just need to remember that humans mess up. We are human, so we’re going to mess up. And when we do, take notes and get back in the saddle.

But also, we have a right to be here. Ironically, the likelihood of each of us being born where, when, and who we are is a miracle, even though it oftentimes doesn’t feel like it. And we all reach points where we wonder why we’re here or about the meaning of everything. Moments like these are what made me love this passage so much. We have a right to be here. And we should use our time here to live the best lives and be the best people we can.

And even when things are dark and gloomy, we should remember that we are exactly where we need to be.

The perfect ending

Even with all of the evil and crazy shit out there in the world, there is still so much beauty, love, and good. We should do our best to never lose sight of that. And if we don’t see any of those things, we need to try to embody them in our lives. Only love can conquer hate. Things will get better, and we should always strive to make them that way.

But also, and I know I bring this up every post, we should be trying to be happy. We only have one life, so making sure it’s the best is paramount. So we need to go out there every day and make sure we’re doing things that will make that happen.

Thank you for talking humans with me today. What’d you think of the poem? Let me know in the comments below. Share this with someone you think will get something from it. And don’t forget to talk humans with someone this week. Peace!