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IFH 256: Desiderata: Blueprint for Being a Successful Filmmaker, Screenwriter and Person

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We have a special show this week. I’ve always have loved the poem Desiderata and thought it would be of value to the IFH Tribe. I discuss it on the podcast but here it is in its entirety.

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 and 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. 

Found in Old Saint Paul’s Church – Baltimore

In 1927 American writer Max Ehrmann (1872–1945) wrote the prose poem Desiderata, which was first published in The Poems of Max Ehrmann in 1948. In 1956, the Reverend Frederick Kates, rector of Saint Paul’s Church in Baltimore, Maryland, included Desiderata in a compilation of devotional materials for his congregation. The compilation included the church’s foundation date: “Old Saint Paul’s Church, Baltimore AD 1692”. Consequently, the date of the text’s authorship was (and still is) widely mistaken as 1692, the year of the church’s foundation. – Wikipedia

I hope reading or listening to Desiderata brought a bit of light and hope to you on your filmmaking or screenwriting journey. Keep that dream alive and I’ll speak to you next week!

Alex Ferrari 1:49
So guys, today I have a special episode. This is going to be a short episode. And it's not anything I've ever done before. But I think it's something that is extremely needed, not only in today's world, but I think for the tribe. I think you need to hear this poem that I always loved. And it is very, very powerful. And I think it's something you guys need to listen to. So the poems name is desert urata. And it is a poem that was found in an old St. Paul's church in 1692. In Baltimore, and no one knows who wrote it. It was just found there. It's anonymous at this point. But it is an extremely powerful piece that I think the tribe really needs to listen to. And it is a kind of a blueprint for life. And I think it will help creatives, artists as well. So here we go. Go placidly amid the noise and the 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 to others, you may become vain and bitter. For always there will be a 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 and the changing fortunes of time. exercise caution and your business affairs for the world is full of trickery. Well 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 to the Council of the years. gracefully. Surrender these things of youth nurtures strength of spirit to show you for the 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 can see them to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noise of confusion of life and 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. I hope this enlightens you a little bit today and helps you on your journey as a filmmaker, screenwriter, an artist, and as a person and play this back a few times and listen to the words. There's a lot of depth in what this man or woman was saying when she or he wrote it. Thanks for listening. And, as always, keep that hustle going. Keep that dream alive. And I'll talk to you soon.

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