Spirituality & Mother Teresa

Hello Spirituality & Science readers - it's been awhile since I've been here as I've lately immersed myself in writing of a different sort, however just last week I was reminded of this beautiful poem and wanted to pass it along. Those of you who read the blog know that while I consider myself spiritual, I'm not religious in any shape or form. I believe you can substitute whatever your belief is for the term God in the poem (e.g. Buddha, source, universal energy, etc.)

I was speaking to one of my spiritual gurus last week - the wonderful Marnie Vincolisi-Leichtenberg - who reminded me that it's okay to shine even if it makes certain people around you uncomfortable as they may envy what you have. Then today I was waiting for a client and randomly pulled a business book that I'd never read off my colleague's shelf and opened to this poem - obviously not a typical business book - but the poem echoed perfectly what Marnie had shared with me several days earlier. The credit for this poem is given to Mother Teresa although it's based on an essay by Kent Keith.

To add yet more synchronicity to my Mother Teresa vibe this week, an artist friend of mine, Jia Apple, emailed me her latest beautiful creation. It's a portrait of Mother Teresa from her Larger than Life Series on women she respects - and is the picture at the top of the blog.

So while I usually include inspirational quotes here, I'm dedicating this whole post to the poem of a wonderfully spiritual human being.



DO IT 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 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.


Until next time...shine on! :)