How To Be Happy.

Emily Dickinson was a 19th century female poet of the most wonderful kind. She lived in accordance with her own doctrines, a rare thing for any human. She delved into the depths of her ocean-like mind to find her own truths, and perceptions, of the world around her. She found happiness in herself, in her own company - a thing which so many of us struggle to do in a media obsessed world. So, without further introduction, let us follow her guide to a realisation of divine joy.

1. Live in nature.

Be ecologically aware, give thanks to the trees, the ocean. You will realise, as you express gratitude to the places where you live, that you are, in fact, a gorgeous being connected to a thousand moving atoms. Worthy of every breath you take.

Oars divide the Ocean,

Too silver for a seam,

Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon,

Leap, plashless as they swim.

2. Take time for yourself.

You are important, so take some time to live in yourself. Learn who you are, all the good and the bad, the shadow and the light.

She dwelleth in the Ground -

Where daffodils - abide-

Her maker- her metropolis -

The universe - her maid-

3. Even if you are a recluse, let yourself fall in love (just once).

True, she never married. However, she was engaged to a judge (and purportedly had a fling with her best friend, GF Susan).

Rowing in Eden -

Ah - the Sea!

Might I but moor - tonight -

In thee!

4. Don't worry if people pay little attention to you - you are still awesome.

Who needs to be known by everyone in the neighbourhood, when you can be known to those close, and dear, to you? Emily spend most of her life inside, an absolute recluse, and loved every minute of it. Nurturing her mind with the brilliant light of a thousand stars and dreams, never intruded upon by societal norms and beliefs. Sounds pretty good to me. She lived as she wanted to live - awesomely.

The Soul selects her own Society—

Then shuts the Door,

To her divine Majority.

5. Don't seek fame and fortune - it'll only make you unhappy.

Yes, that's right, don't aim to be on the cover of vogue. Instead, be happy with a quite abundance.

Fame is a fickle food...Men eat of it and die.

6. Realise truth slowly.

A bit behind in class? Or work? 'Slow' when it comes to learning the basics. Don't worry! That just means you are a deep thinker.

Tell all the truth but tell it slant,

Success in circuit lies,

Too bright for our infirm delight

The truth’s superb surprise.

7. Be Brave.

This world is full of monsters. Be Brave, and fight aloud.

To fight aloud, is very brave -

But gallanter, I know

Who charge within the bosom

The Calvalry of Wo -

Seriously though, if you have not considered reading Emily Dickinson's poetry as a way to indulge your quuarter or mid life crisis - I highly recommend. She is the sassiest, smartest and perhaps one of the most innovative writers from the Englightenment Age. Need proof? Well, A test of any writer's ability can be seen on an evaluation of (a) language use and (b) breadth of topics as well as (c) ability create pathos within the reader.

Not only does she write on a plethora of topics, she does so with creative syntax, inspiring vocabulary that touches the heart of any reader. Look at the way she uses a hyphen at the end of this poem to indicate that life, is indeed, eternal and not a full stop or an ending. What a way to end a poem? !

"Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet

Feels shorter than the Day

I first surmised the Horses' Heads

Were toward Eternity –"

If this isn't genius, I do not know what is.

And there is nothing like reading genius minds as a portal into happiness.

(also, NB, all the quotes from her poems come from https://www.poetryfoundation.org, a seriously awesome website for any poetry lover).