A light heart lives a long time.
Note: Don’t worry. Be happy. You will live longer. The insight in this week’s proverb can be traced back to the Bible, specifically, Leabhar Shíorach (the Book of Sirach 30:14-25):
Sláinte agus Aoibhneas
(Health of Soul and Body)
| 14 | Is fearr as an bochtán ina shláinte agus ina neart, ná an duine saibhir atá á chrá ag drochshláinte. |
| (Better a poor man strong and robust, than a rich man with a wasted frame.) | |
| 15 | Is fearr sláinte agus neart ná ór ar bith, agus colainn dhochaite ná maoin gan áireamh. |
| (More precious than gold is health and well-being, contentment of spirit than coral.) | |
| 16 | Is fearr sláinte choirp ná saibhreas ar bith, agus ní sháraíonn aon aoibhneas an croí suairc. |
| (No treasure greater than a healthy body; no happiness, than a joyful heart!) | |
| 17 | Is fearr an bás ná saol dona, agus suaimhneas síoraí ná breoiteacht bhuan. |
| (Preferable is death to a bitter life, unending sleep to constant illness.) | |
| 18 | Is cuma nithe maithe a chaitheamh le béal iata, nó ofrálacha bia a fhágáil ar uaigh. |
| (Dainties set before one who cannot eat are like offerings placed before a tomb.) | |
| 19 | Cén tairbhe d’íol ofráil torthaí? níl cumas ite ná bolaithe aige; is mar sin don té ar a luíonn an Tiarna. |
| (What good is an offering to an idol that can neither taste or smell.) | |
| 20 | Faigheann sé lán a shúl, agus bíonn ag cneadaíl dála an choillteáin a bhíonn ag cneadaíl agus é ag breith barróige ar mhaighdean. |
| (So it is with the afflicted man who groans at the good things his eyes behold.) | |
| 21 | Ná tabhair thú féin suas don bhrón agus ná bí do do chiapadh féin d’aonghnó. |
| (Do not give in to sadness, torment not yourself with brooding;) | |
| 22 | Maireann an duine ar aoibhneas croí, agus is fad saoil dó an t-áthas. |
| (Gladness of heart is the very life of man, cheerfulness prolongs his days.) | |
| 23 | Cuir lúcháir ar d’aigne agus tabhair sólás do do chroí; cuir an ruaig i bhfad uait ar an mbrón, mar is iomaí duine a scrios an brón, agus ní aon tairbhe é d’aon duine. |
| (Distract yourself, renew your courage, drive resentment far away from you; For worry has brought death to many, nor is there aught to be gained from resentment.) | |
| 24 | Ciorraíonn an t-éad agus an fhearg saol duine, agus déanann imní an tseanaois a bhrostú. |
| (Envy and anger shorten one’s life, worry brings on premature old age.) | |
| 25 | Fear croí éadroim agus fear croí mhóir, beidh [rian a choda] air. |
| (One who is cheerful and gay while at table benefits from his food.) |
