Sunday Afternoon Reflections - Do It Anyway

It's been a rough week on a number of levels. A bit of a roller coaster ride with some wonderful days like my youngest granddaughter's second birthday and the related day at the zoo, to some less fun moments that I gave just a little more power to than I should have. I should know better, but that one set of chromosomes that makes me human is, I suppose, to blame. It's been a while since I've felt the urge to throw my hands up in the air and simply walk away from anything, and this week it felt like that was exactly what I wanted to do in many areas of my life. To those of you who were by my side and on my side, and even to those of you who may not have been - because it forced me to attempt to see things through your eyes - thank you for yet another opportunity to learn more about life and myself.

Life is all about how we relate to others... our interpersonal relationships, our business relationships, our spiritual relationships... and our sense of self. Remembering that all of us are human and that not one of us is perfect can be difficult, but it is something that we all need to be conscious of.

I thought I'd share this writing known as "Anyway" by Mother Teresa. It hung on the wall of her school in Calcutta, and while it has been attributed to her, it was actually loosely based on The Paradoxical Commandments by Dr. Kent M. Keith. It has an important message for all of us, I think.

Sunset on the Kissimmee River by MVImagery

Anyway
(adapted by Mother Teresa)

People are often unreasonable, illogical 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 will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

Sometimes the right thing to do is to simply do it anyway... I hope you have a wonderful week no matter what cards you're dealt. All we can do is our best with what we have.  No matter what happens, the sun will rise on a new day and we can begin again with renewed strength and hope.


xo,