Personal Well-Being

A gift I'd like to share

Many years ago when I worked as a PTA in a skilled nursing facility, I had the pleasure of working closely with a resident and her family. When the resident passed, the family presented me with a little poem, that I'd like to share with you. It is not intended to be offensive, but rather a gift from me to you to be encouraging and consoling.

'Anyway'

"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 God;

It was never between you and them anyway."

by Mother Theresa and/or Dr. Kent Keith (*)

(*) The verses above were reportedly written on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta, India, and are widely attributed to her. And some sources say that the words were written on the wall in Mother Teresa's own room. However, these words are based on a composition originally by Kent Keith.