As good as your dog

‘If you can start the day without caffeine;

if you can get going without pep pills;

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 forgive a friend’s lack of consideration;

if you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you, when, through no fault of your own, something goes wrong;

if you can take criticism and blame without resentment;

if you can ignore a friend’s limited education and never correct him;

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 you have no prejudice against creed or colour, religion or politics; then, my friend, you’re almost as good as your dog.