As humans we find ourselves marooned on our own I-land. Escaping is the key to happiness.

All men are natural I-land people. It takes discipline, training, and self-denial to focus on others. Self is a topical island where it’s hard to see beyond “me, me, me!”

I-land happiness is a myth. The bigger the “I,” the less the happiness. Temptation I-land is overcome with lowland marshes. I-land living is hard because I-land is a lonely, rocky place, continually pounded by a rough sea.

When the waves
Of temptation
Surround me
With storm surge,
I climb to higher ground.

I-land is a tourist trap that tries to keep me stuck in the trinkets and trivialities of life. I-land life is self-focused, but when I obey my conscience and run from temptation, guilt has no chance to steal my liberty and torture me.

When wrongful desire
Tries to require
That I obey,
It’s best if I boldly say
“No way!”

When I land in temptation, my conscience warns me to quickly get out of there before compulsion captures me. When I stay, stuck on the I-land of self, desires get in my way, but when I focus on being kind to others, I have a wonderful day.

Isolation
Increases
Temptation,
But honest
Confession
Drives it away.

Elephants Inspiring The Room contains 365 original, uplifting statements and dozens of fun elephant illustrations that can help you escape from I-land. Find it here.