Desiderata and a Book Tour

Hi, there, CindyLu here! A long time ago, I won a book from Kelly and her mom, Peggy, at Peggy’s Pet Place. Mom says it’s one of the most wonderful gifts she has ever received. With all the sad, maddening news about what happens to so many animals (and people) in the world, she likes to pull out the book and read it to me. It lifts her spirits, she says, and straightens her thoughts. The book is called Desiderata for Dog Lovers, A Guide to Life and Happiness. Desiderata is Latin for “desired things”. That’s Greek to me, but I do love to hear the words from the book.

Desiderata was written a long, long time ago by a famous poet, Max Ehrmann. He didn’t get any credit for it, though, for a very long time. One of the best things about the book are all the pictures of dogs. They’re really fun to look at, and while Mom thinks they’re really cute, I’ll just say they’re almost as cute as me. BOL I do love when Mom reads me the book, though, and I want to share the words with you –


Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.


Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness


Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.


Makes you feel warm and fuzzy, doesn’t it? Just what we need sometimes. If you want to see the cute doggies, you’ll have to get your own. It’s a great book for snuggling, I recommend it to all doggies, and the kittehs that will sit still for it, to have their humans read to them. We also got a really cool bumper sticker, which looks quite snazzy on the back of the car, don’t you think?

See what it says? Yep, that’s right. I know someone famous! Kelly and her mom wrote a book, Dieting With My Dog, and now they’re going on a tour for it. I’m going to be one of the stops on the tour! Be sure to check each day at Peggy’s Pet Place, and follow the tour to see what Kelly and Peggy have to say about dieting together. If you have questions you’d like to ask them, let me know! They’re very generous about that kind of thing. Peggy and Kelly are really two Women You Should Know.