MY RULES FOR LIFEI try never to say anything behind a man’s back that would give me the least embarrassment to say to his face.
I try never to speak back to personal critics-friends do not need to hear the defense and enemies would not believe it.
Every day I try to greet every person I see with a smile and make a personal effort to do so if the person is poor or in unfortunate circumstances.
The first thing when I wake up in the morning I plan what my duty for the day is and try to go beyond in.
Every day I read from the Bible and from some other good books-feeding the mind and soul is more important than feeding the body.
I try to pay back every debt I owe on time and always to save something from every paycheck, however small.
I like people and never harbor any malice or hatred toward any person in the world.
I like places and have yet to be anywhere that I do not like-I go with the intention of liking the place.
I am a confirmed optimist, believing that even in this life evil men will be punished by their own unhappiness and good men will be rewarded.
I try to close each day as if it were the last day I would be on earth, closing the book on all regrets, worries, and annoyances.
The last thing I do at night is to count one by one the blessings of the day. This makes me so thankful and happy that I soon drift into pleasant sleep. In this spirit I hope to close life’s journey and drift into eternity.
George W Dehoff
Written in 1944