“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
–Theodore Roosevelt
My friend Emily posted this on her Facebook page recently.
It was a timely message I desperately needed to hear, and now I find myself thinking of it during the day when I’m reminiscing about the past, or noticing how different (not different in a good way, either) our current house is from houses we’ve owned before, or looking at newer, fancier cars than mine . . . etc. etc. etc. ad nauseam.
How can I be joyful if I’m constantly reminding myself of what I don’t have, instead of being grateful for what I do have? For many years, I’ve kept a gratitude journal. But sometimes I’ll go for months without writing in it. I’m in one of those phases right now. Maybe it’s time to rectify that.
My True North 
Here’s the one I’ve relied on since 1991:
Optimist Creed
Promise Yourself….
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet
To make all your friends feel there is something in them
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your Optimism come true
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble
A little long, but this one works too!