Last Updated on 6th September 2021 by Caroline Haye
I re-read one of my favourite pieces of poetry the other day and it struck me that it is every bit as therapeutic as any medicine. Maybe reading it for yourself will be a brand new experience – or maybe you are familiar with its famous words… In which case, I’d like to ask you, when was the last time you heard or read Desiderata? (If you were wondering, the title means “things desired” in Latin.)
In my opinion, a copy of the following sentences in particular should be available on prescription to all vitiligo sufferers, and to anyone else whose health or appearance may ever have caused them to feel uncomfortable in their own skin.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann
When you read the whole of this poem it may surprise you, given that it was written in 1927, how completely relevant it is to the crazy, stressful, high-tech, high-pressure world we live in today. And it might just inspire you to disconnect from the madness, at least for a while. Taking time out to contemplate “life, the universe and everything” is a powerful way to reduce stress (one of the obstacles to vitiligo recovery). And acknowledging your full worth as a person is a positive mental exercise will top up your confidence.
