When you live for today,
Rather than in the past or for the future.
When you stop looking for happiness
And start giving it to others.
When you want less of what you can see
And more of what you can’t see.
When anything in the world could be yours
And you choose the simple things.
When you have something to live for
That makes you feel alive.
When joy doesn’t depend upon the external
But upon the eternal.
When your life has roots
And your dreams have wings.
When you know the value of love
And value it above all else.
When you never let go of hope
But hold onto it for life.
When you have a purpose to fulfill
That fulfills you.
 
When you haven’t the strength to go on
But you’ve too much heart to give up.
When you aren’t led by your fears
But by your faith.
When you can find something good in the bad
And consider it a blessing.
When you would take nothing
For what is most important to you.
When you realize that success and failure
Are only what you think.
When you know the storms of life
Will pass on to a brighter day.
When you don’t waste time worrying
But use it to make a difference.
When you need something to stand on,
And your standards speak for themselves.
When you accept life on its own terms
And use them to determine your own.
When you are touched by the beauty around you
And the world is touched
by the beauty in you……

Photo:  National Geographic