This is Charlie Chaplin at age 26, photographed 100 years ago.
Below is a poem he read on his 70th birthday, written by Kim McMillen.
(Thanks to Roni Turner and others who corrected my citation via Messenger.)

As I began to love myself
I found that anguish and emotional suffering
are only warning signs that I was living
against my own truth.
Today, I know, this is Authenticity.

As I began to love myself
I understood how much it can offend somebody
if I try to force my desires on this person,
even though I knew the time was not right
and the person was not ready for it,
and even though this person was me.
Today I call this Respect.

As I began to love myself
I stopped craving for a different life,
and I could see that everything
that surrounded me
was inviting me to grow.
Today I call this Maturity.

As I began to love myself
I understood that at any circumstance,
I am in the right place at the right time,
and everything happens at the exactly right moment.
So I could be calm.
Today I call this Self-Confidence.

As I began to love myself
I quit stealing my own time,
and I stopped designing huge projects
for the future.
Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness,
things I love to do and that make my heart cheer,
and I do them in my own way
and in my own rhythm.
Today I call this Simplicity.

As I began to love myself
I freed myself of anything
that is no good for my health –
food, people, things, situations,
and everything that drew me down
and away from myself.
At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism.
Today I know it is Love of Oneself.

As I began to love myself
I quit trying to always be right,
and ever since
I was wrong less of the time.
Today I discovered that is Modesty.

As I began to love myself
I refused to go on living in the past
and worrying about the future.
Now, I only live for the moment,
where everything is happening.
Today I live each day,
day by day,
and I call it Fulfillment.

As I began to love myself
I recognized
that my mind can disturb me
and it can make me sick.
But as I connected it to my heart,
my mind became a valuable ally.
Today I call this connection Wisdom of the Heart.

We no longer need to fear arguments,
confrontations or any kind of problems
with ourselves or others.
Even stars collide,
and out of their crashing, new worlds are born.
Today I know: This is Life!

You know those fluffy white feathers that you find near your front door, your car, in your garden? Yep, you know what I am talking about!  Well today when I woke up, there was a fluffy white feather by my bedroom door. It wasn’t there last night, and it wasn’t there during the night, but it was there when I woke up in the morning. Hmmm. What does it mean, and more interesting, how did it get there? We are talking about all the windows and doors closed. Even the robotic vacuum missed it this morning on its daily trek across my floors.

WHAT DO WHITE FEATHERS MEAN?

We all thought our society, at least in America was so advanced that a pandemic would never touch us. We had comfort in knowing that we are the most civilized and tech-savvy country in the world. 

The year 2020, which when I was a kid, seemed so far in the future…eh, futuristic, right? I’m sure you felt that way too. A vision that we have memorized years ago, included everything space-aged, and foreign. We could see robots, self-driving space vehicles. We were to live in clear bubbles that we could see though, to others, but made no contact with them. We were shielded some how, yet we could still exist.

The Jetsons, is very reminiscent of what we envisioned our lives to be; yet though that is what our memory held, our reality is far different from that. Sure, we have some advanced technology, like self-driving cars, and watches that we can communicate to by cellular means to others…but bubbles? Nope!

We are still susceptible to everyday germs, maladies, common cold and viruses. 

Enter: Coronavirus. A global pandemic. While we were all out enjoying our lives, a medical malady was brewing that will change the way we live, act and hope. Our carefree ways will change someone, now knowing that even though we have technology, we are still vulnerable and are still susceptible to disease.

We will recover, and this is just a temporary setback. However, we must heed this experience, and move forward with caution and concern. We need to live a bit differently, not taking everything for granted that everything will always be the way it is at this very moment.

Love each other always, and stop attacking those with different viewpoints. Listen to each other and appreciate our differences. Variety is the spice of life. None of us know what is just around the corner; so live well and love well.

Best of all do not fear the unknown or the final outcome. Just breathe.

Reflecting upon a career that I began building some 23 years ago…to sum it up, I spent years getting the phone to ring, years keeping the phone ringing, and then it seems like a mere blip, I needed the phone to stop ringing.  Silly isn’t it? I was thinking about that this past month, as I settle in to my new, but not so different career.

Good follows good! That is true! I made myself available, treat people with respect, and treat them the way that I would like to be treated. Fairly simple mantra. Still holds true, today! 

Where as in my own business, Home Is Where The Heart Is, I was the owner, the bottle washer and the cook. In this new chapter of my life, I am simply the associate of a larger corporation, and I need only worry about how well I treat myself and my fellow residents.

Doing what comes naturally, getting compensation for my performance, enjoying every minute of it, putting in my full 40, then relaxing for 16. This is going to be a really nice change of pace.

1st, I would like to thank ALL of my current and past customers, for allowing me to help YOU Sell & Buy, used manufactured homes. It has been the honor of my life to serve you ALL. While I have been in real estate sales for the past 23 years, I specifically concentrated on used manufactured homes for the last 4 years. I have throughly enjoyed watching your smiles, your laughter, and simply, your happiness throughout the transactions.

I closed & retired from, Home Is Where The Heart Is, Inc… 

I am employed at Lost Dutchman MH & RV Park, 10936 E Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85120, working as the Office Coordinator, and will be representing my Lost Dutchman neighbors in the sale of their homes, exclusively. I will still be selling used MH homes, just for a different team.

Stop by the office to visit and if you want, see the homes that we have FOR SALE…

2nd, I want to announce: Sherri Larkin of HomeSmart Northeast Mesa is accepting all of my current, past and future customers; continuing the tradition that I have started.

Sherri Larkin Property Listings

Sherri is a very capable, honest, and trustworthy advocate for both your Manufactured Housing Needs as well as your Real Estate Needs. Sherri is SRES qualified. In simple terms, that means that she is Senior Friendly. Please call or email Sherri for all your real estate and manufactured homes advice, questions & concerns: 602-620-2803 and sherribmi@gmail.com

Frank Shriver Owner of FWS, INC dba Home Is Where The Heart Is, Inc  480-273-5805 frank@fwsaj.com