Just Because You Can

So, this past weekend, I celebrated my birthday. (Happy Birthday to Me!!!)  A week or so prior, I wrote a blog post about how much my life has changed in the past 365 days.  And, it has—dramatically!  But, as I hung out with my family and friends, I began to think about my legacy.  And if I died today, what if anything, do I want people to take away from my life, and the answer to that question can be found in a letter that I recently received from my grandmother.

My grandmother is this petite spectacular woman that oozes with love and gentleness.  Every now and again, she sends a mass mailing to everyone in our family.  Most of the time, they include her prayers for us as a family and her tidbits of wisdom.  In her most recent letter, she sent us a poem, and after another unscientific Google search, the author of this poem is none other than Mother Teresa.

This poem was found in her home for children in Calcutta:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, other could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway. 

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway. 

Not that I plan on leaving this Earth anytime soon, these are the things that I want you to take away from me, my life, my blog… Forgive those that do you the worst. Be Kind when you have the right to be mean.  Succeed when all else fails.  Be honest and sincere, even when you at your most vulnerable.  Always find time to daydream and create.  Do good, even though we all know that no good deed goes unpunished. Always give your best, because no one wants your mediocre attempt.  And whatever you can think of, whatever you dream of- do it! Do it in spite of fears and legitimate critics.  Do it in spite of where you came from and who you don’t know.  Do it in spite of yourself.  Because in the end, that is the only thing holding you back.

Be blessed!

The original version of this poem entitled The Paradoxical Commandments was written by Dr. Kent M. Keith, and can be found online at:http://www.kentmkeith.com/commandments.html.