FOREWORD
On my Fiftieth Birthday (Sunday, September 22, 1918), after a good day’s work, I start, in the afternoon, to spend the few hours before our evening meal in writing down some ideas that may help others (besides myself, who need them as much as anyone, since I am beginning my second half-century), to indulge less in that habit of fear, worry, resentment, and hurry, which must be regarded as a form of suicide, slow indeed, but working in a vicious circle and with self-increasing force, and poisoning and paralysing others besides the respectable offenders themselves.
The chief remedy is—keep happy.
We have had our attention so fixed on prohibitions—the “Thou shalt not” Commandments—that we have, as a Nation, ignored the positive commandments of the Old and New Testaments; among which a very frequently repeated one was “Rejoice” or “Keep Happy.” Others, besides the Master, told us not to worry, not to be afraid, not to be angry, not to be bitter; but to be glad and happy. The orthodox should remember that Happiness is a virtue, however unusual, and Non-Happiness a sin, however common and respectable.
I give one quotation alone—though the usual translation does not convey the real force of the Greek words of Philippians iv. 4-7:—
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.... The Lord is at hand. Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
C. D. Larson’s book, “Just be Glad,” was on my table, and gave me the thought of writing on this subject. Larson offers capital ideas on the mental side, but he does not tell people how to be glad; and, especially, he leaves out all the Physical Helps.
In this little Birthday offering, I shall include a few Physical as well as Mental Helps—a few out of many, since space is limited—so that readers may be able to keep happy easily.
The art is not new, but—like the habit of deep, full, rhythmical breathing—is always needed.
There are millions who have scarcely begun to recognise, at least to the extent of acting upon the facts, that, while their Happiness itself depends largely upon their digestion, their elimination of waste matter, their circulation, etc., these influences themselves depend largely on (1) the choice of foods and drinks, the way of eating and drinking, the breathing and other exercises, and so forth—and on (2) the maintenance of Happiness itself, or at least the avoidance of worry and resentment, etc., and the expression of Happiness, until Happiness actually is attracted and comes into a prepared nest.