Once in a while people suggest that I should post specific things on this site, certain things that have happened to me, recipes, something that I’ve made, thoughts on this or that. I was thinking that this week I would try to post few of those recommendations.
The first up is a poem that I brought into my fourth grader’s classroom for a poetry reading. I was first familiar with and have related to a version of this connected to Mother Theresa, but brought in the original because it is secular and I like to give credit where credit is due. I thought that it might seem a little bleak, however, my fourth grader can be negative and struggles with confidence, so it almost sounds like a conversational back and forth we might have. I also didn’t know if it might be a little over their heads, but I think they understood the sentiment. Perhaps when they are grownups and need a reminder or encouragement this might come back to them, or maybe these kids will help change the world that we can all support each a little more, pursue our instincts with confidence and not feel as defeated at failure.
The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith
http://www.paradoxicalcommandments.com/
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 will 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.
Think 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.
