"Do It Anyway"

This is one of my favorite quotes, if you may call it a quote. This is Mother Teresa's version of the "The Paradoxical Commandments" originally written by Dr. Kent M. Keith. This version is said to have been found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta (and personally I like it a little better :)

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 will 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, others 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.

So true. I try to remind myself of these words often. I would hate to get to the end of my life and look back to see that I lived it based on other's lives. I want to be me anyway, in spite of anyone. I want to love anyway.