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A Timeless and Beautiful Letter in a Time of Pain and Cruelty.
July 4, 2021.
I’m starting a publication and I have no idea where I’m going with it, but for my first article, I wanted to share a letter written by the Portuguese poet, Fernando Pessoa (1888–1935). I have read this several times and still have not extracted every ounce of meaning and value out of it. I will let the message speak for itself and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
You can have flaws, be anxious, and ever angry, but do not forget that your life is the greatest enterprise in the world. Only you can stop it from going bust.
Many appreciate you, admire you and love you.
Remember that to be happy is not to have a sky without a storm, a road without accidents, work without fatigue, relationships without disappointments.
To be happy is to find strength in forgiveness, hope in battles, security in the stage of fear, love in discord. It is not only to enjoy the smile, but also to reflect on the sadness. It is not only to celebrate the successes, but to learn lessons from the failures. It is not only to feel happy with the applause, but to be happy in anonymity.
Being happy is not a fatality of destiny, but an achievement for those who can travel within themselves. To be happy is to stop feeling…
