The poet Olavo Bilac was asked by a friend to write an announcement advertising the sale of his small farm. Bilac wrote a poetic description highlighting the beauty of the property. Later, when the friend read what Bilac had written, he realized the value of what he had and decided not to sell. The poem encourages appreciating what you have - your home, family, friends, health - rather than chasing false treasures or letting valuable things go. It stresses valuing each day and relationships over wanting to change past mistakes.

1. VALUE WHAT IS YOURS!
The Song of the Birds

2. THE OWNER OF A SMALL BUSINESS, A FRIEND OF THE POET
OLAVO BILAC, MET HIM ON THE STREET AND ASKED HIM

3. “MR. BILAC, I NEED TO SELL MY SMALL FARM
THE ONE YOU KNOW SO WELL. COULD YOU PLEASE WRITE AN
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ME FOR THE PAPER?”

4. BILAC WROTE

5. “FOR SALE, A BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY, WHERE BIRDS SING AT
DAWN IN EXTENSIVE WOODLAND, BI-SECTED BY THE
BRILLIANT AND SPARKLING WATERS OF A LARGE STREAM.

6. THE HOUSE IS BATHED
BY THE RISING SUN.
IT OFFERS TRANQUIL
SHADE
IN THE EVENINGS ON
THE VERANDA.

7. SOME TIME LATER, THE POET MET HIS FRIEND AND ASKED
WHETHER HE HAD SOLD THE PROPERTY?

8. TO WHICH HE REPLIED: I’VE CHANGED MY MIND.
WHEN I READ WHAT YOU HAD WRITEN,
I REALIZED THE TREAESURE THAT WAS MINE.

9. SOMETIMES WE UNDERESTIMATE THE GOOD THINGS WE HAVE,
CHASING AFTER THE MIRAGES OF FALSE TREASURES.

10. WE OFTEN SEE PEOPLE LETTING GO OF THEIR
CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR SPOUSES, THEIR
FRIENDS, THEIR PROFESSION,

11. THEIR KNOWLEDGE - ACCUMULATED OVER MANY YEARS ,
THEIR GOOD HEALTH, THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE.

12. THEY THROW
OUT THE WINDOW
WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN
THEM,
SO FREELY,
THINGS WHICH WERE
NOURISHED WITH SO
MUCH CARE AND
EFFORT .

13. LOOK AROUND,
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE:
YOUR HOME, YOUR LOVED ONES,
FRIENDS ON WHOM YOU CAN REALLY
COUNT, THE KNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE
GAINED, YOUR GOOD HEALTH.

14. AND ALL THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS OF LIFE,

15. THAT ARE TRULY
YOUR MOST PRECIOUS TREASURE.

16. WE CAN NO LONGERT SHOWER KINDNESS ON THOSE WE
LOVE, AFTER THEY HAVE DIED.

17. IT IS USELESS TO
WANT TO RE-DO
THE WORK THAT WE
MAY HAVE DONE
NEGLIGENTLY.
IT‘S BEST TO
APPRECIATE AND DO
THINGS WELL NOW.

18. ASK OF GOD AT EVERY MOMENT
THAT OUR PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS
NEVER DEGENERATE
INTO FEELINGFS OF SADNESS AND ANXIETY.

19. BE IN UNION WITH GOD,
WHO WILL PROVIDE THE COURAGE NEEDED
TO BE CERTAIN OF VICTORY IN THE STRUGGLE,

20. WE ARE ALL IMPERFECT.
ALWAYS PRAISE AND VALUE YOUR FAMILY,
DO ALL YOU CAN TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER.
ALWAYS PRAISE AND VALUE YOUR WORK-COMPANIONS .
SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR ENVIRONMENT.

21. INSTEAD OF ISOLATING YOURSELF,
BECAUSE OF WEAKNESS OR FAILURE,
SEEK TO INVEST IN TRUE AND CONSTRUCTIVE
FRIENDSHIP IN YOUR LIFE.

22. FAITH IN GOD IS NECESSARY
TO STRENGTHEN SELF-ESTEEM
IN DEALING WITH DAILY PROBLEMS.

23. MY WISH FOR YOU
BE WITH GOD – AND
MAY GOD BE WITH YOU