Some of the wisest words ever written...

I don't know who should be properly credited, but I actually saw this in an email ages ago that I forgot to save somehow. Then I've seen it again in Larry Winget's great book "Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life!". (And, yes, I'm reading the book for my own personal use...hence my sporadic appearances here as of late, combined with some personal health issues.)

IF...
IF you can start the day without caffeine,
IF you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
IF you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
IF you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
IF you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
IF you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
IF you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
IF you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
IF you can face the world without lies and deceit,
IF you can conquer tension without medical help,
IF you can relax without liquor,
IF you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
IF you can honestly say that deep in your heart that you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion, gender preference, or politics,
THEN...

...you have reached the same level of development as your dog.