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 that highlighted the beauty of the property. When the friend read the announcement, he realized what a treasure he truly had and decided not to sell after all. The document encourages appreciating what you have - your home, family, friends, health - rather than underestimating or taking for granted the good things in life.

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 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. DON‘T THROW OUT 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 IN LIFE,

15. THEY ARE TRULY YOUR MOST PRECIOUS TREASURES.

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. DON’T LET YOUR PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS DEGENERATE INTO FEELINGFS OF SADNESS AND ANXIETY.

19. PROVIDE YOURSELF WITH THE COURAGE NEEDED TO BE CERTAIN OF VICTORY IN THE STRUGGLE OF LIFE.

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 CO-WORKERS . 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. STRENGTHEN YOUR SELF-ESTEEM IN DEALING WITH DAILY PROBLEMS.

23. MY WISH FOR YOU LOVE AND HAPPINESS ALWAYS.