Do Good Anyway

They say, "No good deed goes unpunished," and I have definitely seen that play out in my life recently. On three separate occasions, I have been verbally attacked or berated for trying to do something I had intended to be kind and/or helpful. Each time, my feelings were deeply hurt, and I experienced a brief moment of wanting to throw up my hands and abandon the whole notion of showing up as a force of good in the world. But, honestly, I can't help myself. My nature is one of kindness and helpfulness, and that is really and truly how I desire to show up in the world, even if it isn't appreciated or reciprocated. I don't want to be mean or nasty or uncaring because I don't like myself when I'm that way. And my goal is to like myself even if no one else likes me. 

I'm no Mother Teresa, but after the most recent incident of my kindness being repaid with hostility, I started thinking about something she beautifully said which embodied the philosophy she lived and reflects a life philosophy I believe I could get behind as well: "People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway." 

People will be rude, unkind, unappreciative, defensive, and hostile, but this has nothing to do with me. And it is me I have to live with until I die. It is me I have to face in the mirror at the end of the day. It is me I have to put to bed with a clear conscience every night. I always have a choice about the kind of person I want to be. For me, it is necessary to show up with kindness and goodness because being any other way doesn't change other people, it only robs me of my peace of mind. And I've learned that I must protect my peace of mind at all costs, so I will "do good anyway."