A Blessing and a Wish

May flowers always line your path
And sunshine light your day.

May songbirds serenade you
Every step along the way.

May a rainbow run beside you
In a sky that’s always blue.

And may happiness fill your heart
Each day your whole life through.
—Irish blessing

Do you like that blessing? It’s a bit too sugary for me. I prefer this one that I wrote about last year:

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear
   much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough “Hello’s” to get you through the final “Goodbye.”

 
Not nearly as sunny or poetic, I’m afraid, but I’m a tragic optimist at heart. Do either of these appeal to you?

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18 Responses to A Blessing and a Wish

  1. tammyj says:

    I can’t really call myself a tragic optimist. though I do like Victor Frankel.
    but I like the second one best too.
    it’s more realistic.
    the Marines sum life of in one quick phrase.
    “nobody promised you a rose garden.”
    my own marine has lived by that for years.
    he simply quietly deals with whatever comes along. 🙂
    sending Andy and You wonderful Healing thoughts! XOXOXO

  2. Ginny Hartzler says:

    I had never heard of Tragic Optimisn until I just read your explanation by Dr. Frankl. I tend to agree. I like both blessings.

  3. Hootin' Anni says:

    Take life with good and bad, and you appreciate every waking hour!!!

  4. Ann Thompson says:

    I like the second one best. I agree with Tammy, it’s more realistic. In a world where you have blue skies, sunshine and rainbows every day it would be hard to appreciate them as much

  5. MadSnapper says:

    I am a total realist, practical to the bone. that means yours is best for me. I don’t like sugary at all and optimism is not in my vocabulary. you manage to put both in one poem… life is hard and we have to live the good and the bad and adjust to it.. good job on that poem. I just came from a joyful visit to Tempi, smiled all the way through that box episode

  6. Rose says:

    I love both…

  7. Myra Guca says:

    I love your version! Wouldn’t that make a splendid sentiment for a new graduate?
    The first is lovely, but reminds me of something my grandmother would have chosen. (Pity the realists of her generation who had to hide their annoyance.)

  8. Linda Sand says:

    I prefer the second one. You need something against which to compare the good to realize how good it is.

  9. Cheri says:

    Oh I love your blessing:) I have always been a worrier and tend to see the cup as half empty…I was basically raised that way. In my “old age” I am doing my best to learn to be an optimist. It’s hard to change a zebra’s stripes!!! My husband is an optimist so that helps:)

    • Jean says:

      I usually expect things to go wrong but I don’t worry about it. Life is still worth living and I focus on making myself stronger to deal with problems.

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