Laugh Often

I have always been a student of success. To me success means making a difference. That's the message of this poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

To laugh often and much

to win the respect of intelligent people

and the affection of children;

to earn the appreciation of honest critics

and endure the betrayal of false friends;

to appreciate beauty;

to find the best in others;

to leave the world a bit better,

whether by a healthy child,

a garden patch

or a redeemed social condition;

to know even one life has breathed easier

because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.

Did I make a difference in someone else's life today? I hope I can often say, "Yes I did."