Hanging on the wall of Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta, there was a poem with the heading, `Do It Anyway’. The poem, in nine short verses, advises the reader how to deal with those sad folk whose negative attitudes mirror Victor Meldrew on a bad day.
Each verse of the poem ends with words that tell you how to deal with self-centred, difficult and unreasonable people, that make you wonder whether the unappreciated – or even despised – ‘good deeds’ you did were really worth all the time and effort.
Do It Anyway –
“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.
The Nike slogan is right – ‘ Just do it!’