A REMINDER

                                

The past couple of sleepless nites, I spent a good deal of time reading all of the entries in Judith Heartsong's October Artsy Essay contest. I think the collection of essays may be the best of the ones I have seen since I started participating in her contests.

The subject she asked us to explore seemed to require each of the entrants to delve deep inside and bring forth something not generally shouted out to the world. I cannot believe the incredible revelations each of the writers so richly described. The emotions ran the gamut from crippling hurt to pure joy. I was moved countless times during my readings.

And today I have thought about people in general. We are so different, yet so alike. We do for them, talk to them, make time for them, like them or dislike them, and we react to them. Sometimes how they are with us is puzzling, maddening, or unbelievably cruel. If there are days when we feel fragile, it becomes all too easy to let the words or actions of others define us. A strong sense of self is necessary to avoid being caught in that dreadful web. And it is worth every ounce of energy to escape it.

Here is a gentle and profound reminder to those who might be struggling trying to prioritize what is and is not of importance. It is attributed to Mother Teresa, although I am not 100% certain this is one of her many teachings. Whoever wrote it was blessed with superior insight into the psyches of people.

"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 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."

That is brilliant.