RECIPE FOR A WHOLESOME NEW YEAR
Take twelve months and bless them,
So that they may be cleansed of all
Bitterness, greed, fault-finding, and fear.
Divide each section into thirty or thirty-one portions,
So that your store will last you a whole year.
And then, each day of the coming year,
Serve one portion that consists of:

Equal parts of labour, joy, and humour;
Three heaped tablespoons of optimism;
One teaspoon of tolerance;
One grain of mirth;
Add a generous pinch of tact,
And pour lots of love over them.

When ready for serving:
Garnish with bunches of kindness and attentiveness.
Serve daily with cheerfulness,
And a good, refreshing cup of tea.

Catharina Elisabeth Goethe 1731/1808
Mother of the great German poet

Translation by Aquarius 2007