"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"

This is the opening stanza of a piece of timeless writing, a poem I first heard from my English teacher in school, and one which I have used as a motivational piece for my students and my own children. Desiderata is a Latin word for "things desired" and this poem gives us many important messages for what we may want in life in this fast-moving and materialistic world today.