Gratitude Practice 2020 Day 179: "Anyway" by Mother Teresa

Tonight, along with about 900+ other community members, I watched a public meeting online that quickly went off the rails. I mean...total yikes! So many challenging cringe worthy moments. So many highly charged exchanges. So many big weighty decisions on the line. So much confusion and frustration. It was a spectacle. It was exhausting. It was heartbreaking. And I can't stop thinking about it. Nobody sets out to crash and burn... and tonight...there was just so much smoke.

Without question, I am grateful for those in the arena. For those who are putting skin in the game trying to muscle through these incredibly hard issues. For those who run for small town public office...for those just wanting to do a little good and now find themselves struck wide eyes with the responsibility of making unprecedented decisions in these unprecedented times. For those in the trenches advocating for the underserved, for the underrepresented, for the underdogs. For those who are thinking big and boldly and then slogging towards solutions. For those who want to give up...or blow up...or pack up....but don't. Just so grateful for those who keep breathing deeply as they continue trucking forward.

Because...THIS. All of THIS. Any of THIS….hard. Just so so so hard. Everyone I know is skating on the razors edge just trying to keep it together...and most days it feels like the best tools we've got seem like a wimpy wad of string and a half empty roll of scotch tape….and it's the whole damned world we are trying to fix. G U L P!

Tonight, grateful to be reminded of these powerful words by the super saint, Mother Teresa. May we all rest well tonight...and courageously try again tomorrow…. until then enjoy a flower from my backyard garden and these centering prose.

"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 world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;

It was never between you and them anyway.