In this day and age, we are often given conflicting advice about how to live. I believe it’s key to know what’s important to you, to be strong in your values and morals. To have a vision for your life. And to live by this. Don’t allow others to tell you what’s important and how you should live your life.
I first came across the piece below many years ago, and it made an impression on me. It is rather simple but i feel it is effective as it makes a valid point. What do you think? Do you agree?
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centred;
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.
Reportedly inscribed on the wall of Mother Teresa’s children’s home in Calcutta and attributed to her. However, an article in the New York Times has since reported (March 8, 2002) that the original of this poem was written by Kent M. Keith