It's said that the verses below were written on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta, India and widely attributed to her. They seem, though, to be based on a composition originally written by Dr. Kent Keith, a dynamic speaker and writer whose mission is to help people find personal meaning in a crazy world. Mother Teresa appears to have rewritten the second half of the verses in a spiritual way. I'm presenting both because their generosity is amazing, and good models for all of us.
MOTHER TERESA'S -
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.
DR. KENT KEITH'S 'The Paradoxical Commandments'
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Thing big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.
I love, love, love this, Muriel!! I always strive to live by those words and try to teach my kids to do the same. I'm hanging it on my kitchen wall or pantry door so my kids can see it all the time.
ReplyDeleteYes! And I knew it was you scratching the rhino behind the ear. The umbrella on the tree was a toss-up - could have fit you or Amy. Was fun to learn about you two.
DeleteThese are wonderful words to live by! I especially related to the one about succeeding - once I began publishing, people that had been unkind suddenly wanted to friend me on Facebook or drop by to talk even though, before, they had only talked behind my back. The reverse is also true, being successful has brought out some mean behavior towards me in my writers group where they joke around now about how Harlequin novels barely count as being published since -according to them- anyone can write them. This hurts because before I sold my first YA and then romance novels, they were people I thought of as very kind, encouraging people. But now they laugh about how the couples on my covers are always 'rolling in the grass' and stuff like that. I'm struggling to meet my Feb 1st deadline and writing romances aren't easy for me. It's a joy, but hard work. I wish they wouldn't put it down so much. They even make me wonder if I should keep writing romance.
ReplyDeleteKaren, you need to find a new writing group of friends. Book A is as hard to write as Book B. And writing romance is no different than writing syfi or mystery or other genre's. Spending time with people who denigrate your work steals your energy. Cut them from your life.
DeleteKaren! Don't you dare turn to writing something else - unless you really want to. I'm always being asked when I'm going to write a 'real' book, and a young man who was struggling to be published at the same time I was, told me after I'd sold, "Well, I could be published, too, if I'd lower my standards." You've got to let all that slide. You wrote a beautiful romance that touched all of us Politics, power, greed, revenge - all that stuff bigger books are about - are beyond my understanding. I write about love and romance proudly because their victories may be quiet, but they're eternal!
DeleteMuriel,
DeleteLower your standards!!!! Gee, I wonder if Nora and Debbie lowered their standards. When I wear tennis shoes, I've not lowered my standards from high heels. I'm just at a different place and time in life. And, I love my tennis shoes more.
Roz, Muriel, and Pam, thank you so much. I can't tell you how much your comments mean to me. As I think about what I want to do going forward I have those voices in my head that make me question myself and my choices. I've read and loved Harlequin since I was a young teenager. To think that they have published my stories, amazes and humbles me. There is beauty in writing about love because , in the end, what brings us more happiness, is more important, in life? I wish other people saw it that way. I was invited to speak at a writers group and only one had read my book and the rest apologized and said they only read 'real' books- ouch. Roz is right, I need to be amongst people who value romance novels. Being on this blog and in our Heartwarming group has helped me so much Hugs to all of you! Thank you <3
DeleteKaren, you're going to make me cry. Trust me, reading what you wrote, I was thinking I could have written it. I (and I think most of us) have been there and have had to deal with people and comments like that. I still do...even from relatives and people I thought were friends. It's amazing how a change (especially success) in your life can bring out true colors. It's both disheartening...and enlightening. I tell myself that at least now I know who they really are. And the people who are being genuinely happy for who I am now--someone who has finally found and embraced something they're passionate about...the real me--those are my real friends. They're the ones who matter. I have to force myself to ignore the rest.
DeleteI also understand what it's like to change careers and to have people who once respected you, act like you've settled for something less. They don't get it...and they won't unless I happen to write a blockbuster some day. Then suddenly you're an old friend ;).
You're an incredible writer, Karen. You know I believe that. Don't let anyone discourage you. Embrace who you are and what makes you happy and those who surround you with positive energy and support will be your true friends.
And I tell myself all of this all the time!!!! I have to.
This makes me so sad, Karen. I did read your book and, believe me, I found it a real book! I've read a few, too (haven't I, Muriel?) :-) I'm so sorry you've had these experiences, though.
DeleteGreat post.
ReplyDeleteAnd Karen, it took me a decade and a pile of rejections before I wrote a book Harlequin would buy. And, hmmm, Harlequins are on the shelf, have the biggest bookclubs, and have had loyal fans since the beginning.
Hey, your last name is Rock, and you know what... Harlequin and Harlequin authors ROCK.
Yeah! Rah! (I'm doing scissor kicks and tossing confetti!)
DeleteBeautiful post Muriel!!
ReplyDeleteKaren, it's the same everywhere, you are not alone. But trust me, I would bet anything that some of those criticizing your choice to write romance and for Harlequin are people who have secretly submitted to them and got rejected, so hear their comments for the jealousy and envy that they are. Whenever anyone hears romance-they automatically think Harlequin and for good reason!
And please don't ever let them sway you into writing something different-just keep thinking about the Harlequin community and the people who really matter-the people who support and love you.
In Alberta (and Canada wide I think) there is huge emphasis placed on literary works. Genre fiction isn't widely accepted as good writing, unless of course the storyline is set in Alberta;) Therefore I have been overlooked for awards, grants, positions within schools despite my skill level or knowledge of writing and the industry as a whole. Unfortunately, we may never change the mindset of others, but that's okay-we all know how hard we work and the quality of our books:)
And it doesn't hurt that we sell thousands more copies than (most) of the naysayers with our 'roll in the grass stories' lol:) xo
Yeah! Again - scissor kicks and confetti!
DeleteHere! Here! Jennifer!!!
DeleteI love these.
ReplyDeleteMe, too!
DeleteThese really hit home today. In my "other life" I have a client who trash talked my business partner and I to make himself look good. I told my business partner to shrug it off and forgive - it's his insecurities, they shouldn't draw out ours. Years later, he's still a client and often recommends us (just did yesterday). But if we would have defended ourselves or challenged him, that business and the work that followed would never have materialized. You benefit by being the bigger person. Always.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Good for you for really living your principles. My mother always said, "God never sleeps."
DeleteMuriel, these from both sources are words to live by. Glad you posted them.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked them. Someone should create wallpaper (not computer wallpaper but actual wallpaper) with inspirational sayings on them for kids 'rooms and writers' offices! Maybe technology will some day allow us to create our own.
DeleteHi Muriel-I did a search and you can! The website is www.designyourwall.com :) I'm thinking of designing one with these quotes for my son's bedroom-great idea!!!
DeleteJen - thank you! I had no idea! I'm going to check it out right now.
DeleteAn excellent blog. I enjoyed the comparison between the two: Mother Teresa and Dr. Kent Keith. Information I can post on my refrigerator along with The Serenity Prayer.
ReplyDeleteGood idea, Marion. I have quotes all over I'd love to consolidate into the wallpaper Jen found online.
ReplyDelete