“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.“
Mother Teresa
(Adapted from Kent M. Keith – The Paradoxical Commandments)