A poet is asked by a friend to write an advertisement to sell his small farm. The poet writes a beautiful description of the farm that focuses on its natural beauty rather than material worth. When the friend reads the description, he realizes what a treasure he truly owns and decides not to sell. The passage encourages appreciating what you have, like family and health, rather than chasing false treasures or taking things for granted.

1. VALUE WHAT YOU HAVE! 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 WRITTEN, I REALIZED THE TREASURE 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 WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM SO FREELY. THINGS WHICH WERE NOURISHED WITH SO MUCH CARE AND EFFORT .

13. LOOK AROUND AND 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 LONGER 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 FEELINGS OF SADNESS AND ANXIETY.

19. BE IN UNION WITH GOD, WHO WILL PROVIDE THE COURAGE NEEDED FOR VICTORY IN THE STRUGGLE; BECAUSE GOD GIVES WITH ABUNDANCE WHAT WE NEED.

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 FRIENDSHIPS 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