Advice from the late 1800s

[crowjoy]

From a clipping found in my new TREASURE 1885 copy of The Farm and Household Cyclopedia, which I got for $3 at the flea market yesterday but which you can read online for free! http://www.archive.org/stream/farmhouseholdcyc00luptuoft

An Old Lady's Way

A happy and vigorous old lady in New Hampshire gives these rules for the secret of success of 80 years' living on this planet, which brings so much care and worry to many of her sisters:  “"I never allow myself to fret over things I cannot help. I take a nap, and sometimes two, every day of my life. I never take my washing, ironing, or baking to bed with me, and I try to oil all the various wheels of a busy life with an implicit belief that there are a brain and a heart to this great universe, and that I can trust them both.” - Chicago Tribune

Comments

[cleobatya.livejournal.com]

"I try to oil all the various wheels of a busy life with an implicit belief that there are a brain and a heart to this great universe, and that I can trust them both"

I love that.

[crowjoy.livejournal.com]

The whole thing struck me as a special message, a reminder! And maybe I should reconsider my stance on napping!

[crowjoy.livejournal.com]

I also really like this phraseology, "things I cannot help." not things I can't control, or things I can't do anything about, but things I can't *help*. Can I help that? is a GREAT litmus test for fretting, brings it back to an active thing.

Does Michael eat meat?

[pom-e-granate.livejournal.com]

I love things like that. Old house and home books and old obituaries both make me happy in the same way.

[crowjoy.livejournal.com]

I have been dreaming of flea market treasure, and this book is IT. I'm so excited that I can actually read it (online) without subjecting it to too much handling. And all of the tuck-ins like this quote just THRILL me. There is one folded up piece of writing paper in there I haven't opened yet, the anticipation is too delicious!

[pom-e-granate.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is FANTASTIC!

[laxmarallel.livejournal.com]

Good words to live by.

[mpellet771.livejournal.com]

I don't take my washing, ironing, or baking to bed with me but I sure take my job along.

[(Anonymous)]

I was just reading over some of your wonderful postcards. None of them have a return address to send one in reply, but I'm grateful. 💞

Rory

[crowjoy.livejournal.com]

Helloooo!!! I'm so glad to hear from you!! Always hoping you are well, have found your tribe and hometown, getting nibbled by goats maybe. :D Will try to remember a return address next time! xxooCJ