Music: Bliss: A Hundred Thousand Angels

Here's a sample of the Bliss: A Hundred Thousand Angels track.
You can hear a sample on iTunes as well.

This is a GREAT track.
You can buy it on iTunes for 79p!
Here's a website where you can buy the album for $1.08. Crikey! That's cheap..

If you have a resentment you want to be free of..

"If you have a resentment you want to be free of, if you will pray for the person or the thing that you resent, you will be free. If you will ask in prayer for everything you want for yourself to be given to them, you will be free. Ask for their health, their prosperity, their happiness, and you will be free. Even when you don't really want it for them, and your prayers are only words and you don't mean it, go ahead and do it anyway. Do it every day for two weeks and you will find you have come to mean it and to want it for them, and you will realize that where you used to feel bitterness and resentment and hatred, you now feel compassionate understanding and love."

p552 Big Book from the Story called 'freedom from bondage' p544
This method is PURE MAGIC by the way! SERIOUSLY cool!
But you have to do EXACTLY what it says. No deviations, no wooly interpretations. EXACTLY what it says. (To get the full effect anyway.)
(By the way, I use the term "Pray for the Bastard' to refer to this practice.)

Written by a young woman of course. Cool!
Bless her. I identify with her!
"The mental twists that led up to my drinking began many years before I ever took a drink for I am one of those whose history proves conclusively that my drinking was a "symptom of a deeper trouble".
Through my efforts to get down to "causes and conditions", I stand convinced that my emotional illness has been present from my earliest recollection. I never did react normally to any emotional situation."
p544 Big Book

Amen!
Yeah been there, done that, got the T shirt!

I am CONVINCED (although obviously I could never prove this) that the ONLY people who take this programme SERIOUSLY. And I mean !! SERIOUSLY !!!!
Are those that have had FULL ON, no pansying around, PROPER !! P.A.I.N.

None of your 'half measure' low self esteem stuff.
PROPER A.G.O.N.Y.
Heheh
Well what do I know? But that's how its seems to me. Whatever.
I just think you have to be pretty !!! desperate to do the stuff AA suggests. That's all. I have always tended to draw the conclusion that the people who do the most work, are the people with the saddest stories.

"My joy is like Spring, so warm it makes flowers bloom all over the Earth. My pain is like a river of tears, so vast it fills the four oceans."
Call Me By My True Names by Thich Nhat Hanh
(So yes you can feel BOTH at the same time. Weird but true!)

Frinstance. I LOVE !!!! The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off (Jonny Kennedy)
But that's another post.
TRUST ME.
That guy had a TERRIBLE time of it. But he's AMAZING.
Whatever. That's another post.

Pray for the Bastard!: A 'stand-in' cure for Resentment before you complete the 4th and 5th step.

"If you have a resentment you want to be free of, if you will pray for the person or the thing that you resent, you will be free. If you will ask in prayer for everything you want for yourself to be given to them, you will be free. Ask for their health, their prosperity, their happiness, and you will be free. Even whey you don't really want it for them and your prayers are only words and you don't mean it, go ahead an do it anyway. Do it every day for two weeks, and you will find you have come to mean it and to want it for them, and you will realize that where you used to feel bitterness and resentment and hatred, you now feel compassionate understanding and love."
Freedom from Bondage, Page 552, Alcoholics Anonymous.

(Thank you Zane at Zanejabbers(who is actually a rather lovely human being) for reminding me of where this passage is. I completely forgot!)

When people are new and do not have the skills in identifying resentment that come after (competently!) completing steps 4 and 5, this is what I tell them to do with resentment. It's the NUMBER ONE offender" so it's VERY important to find a way of managing it prior the the insight we have after step 5.

My favorite old timer used to say it (Pray for the Bastard!) ALL the time.
I did it when I was new.
It worked for me.
I know LOADS of other people who did it and it worked for them too.
So, basically, it works.

Trust me, you NEED this skill prior to completion of step 5. If you do not learn this skill there is a STRONG chance you will get hijacked by resentment, and you are in GRAVE danger of drinking if you have not been 'restored to sanity as a result of having a spiritual awakening having completed the first nine steps.'
So this is VERY necessary.

Why?
Resentment is probably the greatest threat to sobriety. And the only real way to get on top of it is by the process of examining our resentments in step 4, and staying out of harms way till we know better in the meantime.

"But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feeling we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die.
If we were to live, we HAD to be free of anger. The grouch and the brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious luxury of normal men, but for alcoholics these things are poison."
p66 BB

And this is why arguments (or ANYTHING that inflames resentment) puts you in an EXTREMELY vulnerable position. Anger just doesn't work for us. We can't just follow it like we used to. Even when we are 'right'. And especially ! when we are new because that's when we have the LEAST defense against the first drink.

This ' Pray for the Bastard!' thing is actually rather a lovely process. I LOVE hearing the stories people tell about what happened after they did it. Really !! Cool stuff happens sometimes. It seems to have a very miraculous effect.

The REALLY cool part of the proceess, is asking yourself IN ALL HONESTY. "What do I want?"
Really. What do I LONG for?
What would I love more than ANYTHING ELSE?"

See untill you answer that question HONESTLY, you have NO CLUE what to ask for the other person.
You have to identify your HEARTFELT DESIRE
Your INNOCENT HOPE
You need to identify the thing you CRAVE
No bullshit. The truth.

THAT'S the cool part.

And when you know what that thing is?
Well. You ask for the OTHER person, to have that thing.

Wow. I LOVE this practice. Its EXTREMELY powerful.
The more HONEST you are about what you TRULY want, the BETTER this thing works.
Yes. Of COURSE it involves going to ANY LENGTHS. But whats new? That's the 'AA deal'. This is NOT a half measures thing. Just do your lousy best. I start off saying it through gritted teeth, (Heheh) but it gets easier.
But just trust me. You will LOVE this one, in hindsight. Its an AMAZING practtice. We are SO lucky to have this gem in our toolbox. It REALLY moves things around in the universe.
Right I'm off. Have fun with that one!

How to get a LOVING concept of a Higher Power. If you do not already have one.

It HAS to be a LOVING concept of a HP. (see Trad 2.) If it is even a LITTLE bit judgmental, it’s no good. Generally, when talking to your higher power, ask for help with whatever ROADBLOCKS you are experiencing at present.
If the roadblock is that you have a PUNISHING or JUDGEMENTAL higher power, then this is not really in keeping with the 'instructions' in Tradition 2.
You can get very unstuck down the line, if you 'drift' into a punishing concept.
With AA It's ALL in the detail!! (Well that's what I think anyway.) I am AMAZED at how STUCK people can get at a later stage if they do not 'dot the I's and stroke the t's' if you know what I mean..

I ALWAYS say to new people..
Ask your higher power for the MOST loving concept of a POWER greater than you.
Ask your higher power for the MOST powerful concept of a POWER greater than you.
Self will isn't going to get you there! (See Big Book quote below) That's how I got my concept...

Why not try 'the power of AA as a whole' to begin with?
Or the power that makes the earth turn?

"If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered LONG ago. But we found that such codes and philosophies did NOT save us, NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE TRIED.
We could wish to be moral, we could wish to be philosophically comforted, in fact, we could will these things with ALL our might, BUT THE NEEDED POWER WASN'T THERE.
Our human resources, as marshaled by the will, WERE NOT SUFFICIENT: they FAILED UTTERLY." p45

Have a nice Sunday! Weather is GLORIOUS here!

Insomnia: "If you can't sleep, don't count sheep, talk to The Shepherd!"

"If you can't sleep, don't count sheep, talk to the shepherd!"

And then there's always the all-time best cure for insomnia! Yep, you guessed it! The Big Book!
"It works when all else fails"
Heheh

(By the way, the 'shepherd' trick DOES actually work..)
I find it works best 'out loud' as opposed to 'in your head'.
Just keep gasbagging away! Blah Blah blah.. Etc. I do it in bed. Not kneeling. And my focus is always to be as unflatteringly HONEST as possible. Ie. No BS. Not as easy as it sounds!! Trust me!

Oh yeah, and I don't know if you know this one, but this was a standard reply to any insomnia-related whinge in my old home group..
"No one ever died from lack of sleep"

(Mind you that geezer in the film called the Machinist had a damm good try!)
..But I think this applies to people who are not COMPLETELY mad like the guy in that film.. (bless im)

Prayer: A Grovel-free Zone!

For those of you that have a tendency to get all 'inferior' when you talk to to your higher power...
Groveling obsequious 'prayer' is NOT good. Did you do any Dickens in school? Remember Uriah Heep? Bleh! You don't want to be like that do you? Well then! No more groveling pleas for 'redemption' from your 'terrible' iniquities!

All this being 'down' on yourself. It's all very 'drama queen', Chill! Wear life like a loose garment. not a hair shirt!

Being INFERIOR in ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM is PRIDE IN REVERSE.

Pride is essentially BS. So when you think you are s**t, you are JUST as full of BS, as when you think you are better than everybody else!They are BOTH VERY arrogant positions.

When will you know when you have hit the balance JUST right?
When you are COMFORTABLE!
Be guided by the wisdom of your feelings (meaning what feels 'happy joyous and free') and you will ALWAYS be guided to gods will. Well that's what I think anyhow,..

The Greatest Gift

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can' t make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together .

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.


I've shamelessly borrowed this from Rex's Blog .
I find this useful as it describes a type of thinking which I think is a very natural consequence of practicing the aa programme. This type of thinking should become more standard as time goes on. I find the best way to cultivate this mindset is to talk to newcomers and try to be helpful generally. Everyone has a 'story'. Even the 'grotty' people. You'd be surprised what you find out about people if you approach them with an attitude of service.

Prayers in unexpected places

Love, lift me out of these blues
Won't you tell me something true
I believe in you

This is from the U2 song Elevation. I can see the entire song as a prayer, but my favorite bit is this. I love the whole 'song as prayer' thing. Well it works for me anyhow. I love the 'hidden' prayers in things. They seem to be everywhere sometimes. Like Kenny's street sign not so long ago. (See recovery road blog to see the street sign thing)
Anyway just thought I'd share that. So many songs are full of wonderful prayers.

Active Imagination and reasoning with 'Component parts' of self

I don't generally have a 'busy' head these days, but if there WAS something 'rattling around' in there that was bugging me,
I either tell someone about it,
OR, do an 'active imagination' conversation. (See previous posts under label 'prayer')

Or sometimes I just dialogue with the 'rattled' part of my head that is 'bleating'. I 'hear it out' and listen to what it has to say, and then counter its arguments for being distressed with reasoned feedback from my knowledge of recovery. It's like being a good parent to myself.

They all work well in their own way.

How shall I find a Sponsor? Who shall I ask?

Here's what I did.
When people ask me this question, I always tell them the same advice..because it worked for me and I've seen it work for many others too.

Ask your Higher Power to guide you towards THE VERY BEST Sponsor for YOU.

Other very similar prayers are...
Ask your Higher Power to guide you towards THE VERY BEST Meetings for YOU.
Ask your Higher Power to guide you towards THE VERY BEST way of working the programme for YOU.
Ask your Higher Power to guide you towards THE VERY BEST way of working the Steps for YOU.
Ask your Higher Power to guide you towards THE VERY BEST Concept of a Higher Power for YOU.

Getting on with the Footwork:
You paddle, God steers.
So now that you have put your request 'out there', start doing the FOOTWORK.
Ie. Looking out for the most sober person in the meetings you are going to and asking for their phone number.
Then try calling them.

Ask yourself, How helpful are they really?:
How do you feel AFTER you have spoken to them on the phone?
Do things seem simpler? Or more unclear?
Do you feel better for talking to them? Yes or no. If yes. How much better? A little? A lot?
Do you feel more hopeful after you spoke to them, or less hopeful?
Do you feel stupid after you have spoken to them?
Did they say bitchy things about other people in AA?
This is how you are to gauge HOW MUCH THE PERSON IS ACTUALLY HELPING YOU.

Principles Before Personalities:
Don't think to yourself, 'ah well they seem like a nice enough person.' THAT'S NOT THE POINT!
You are NOT supposed to choose a Sponsor based on PERSONALITY. Anymore than you would choose a Cardiac surgeon on PERSONALITY.
In case you've forgotten, alcoholism, like advanced Heart disease, is pretty f'ing nasty. And if you have any sense AT ALL, you will do WHATEVER IT TAKES TO STOP IN IN ITS F'ing TRACKS.
And just for the record, that does NOT include, choosing a Sponsor because 'You like them', it means you MAKE SURE you are choosing someone to help you THAT KNOWS THEIR SUBJECT AND THE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THEY HAVE A VERY COMPETENT GRASP OF THE PRACTICE OF RECOVERY.
Not someone you 'like'.
Jeez.
Lets say (god forbid), that you find out tomorrow that you have a serious thickening of the arteries near the valves of the heart, and you're going to need a 'stint;' put into the vessel to keep it from causing future coronaries.
Now don't tell me that when faced with a CHOICE of consultants and cardiac surgeons, that you PAY NO ATTENTION WHATSOEVER TO THE TRACK RECORD OF THEIR PREVIOUS PATIENTS, OR THEIR EXPERIENCE AND FAMILIARITY WITH CARDIAC SURGERY, and make a decision BASED ENTIRELY ON WETHER YOU 'LIKE' THE SURGEON.
DUH!
No freaking way! Would you be so !! stupid.
Yet you'd be surprised how many people in AA chose Sponsors in precisely that way. Even though their lives really are at stake if they mess up their recovery.
??? I'll never know why people in AA make such CRITICAL DECISIONS about their lives so unthinkingly. Like everything else in life, 'you snooze you lose'. And choosing a Sponsor is no different.

The 'Shopping list'. Have they got what you want?:
So please, don't make a decision on a whim or an unthinking, auto pilot, sort of way. Try to make sense of what QUALITIES they have gained in recovery that YOU would like to 'own' down the road. What have they got that you want? Happiness? Peace of mind? Ability to pass it on? Wear life like a loose garment? Upbeat? Never depressed? Able to do really difficult things? Comfortable in their own skin? Easy continuity of emotional balance? Emotional consistency? Fair minded? Open minded? Teachable? Always learning new stuff? Easy going? Energized? Motivated? Enthusiastic? Makes things seem simple? Solution orientated? Capable? Doesn't bitch and moan? Etc etc.
Make a 'shopping list' of the things you want, and the things you don't want. Look for people who have already GOT the things on your shopping list. These are good people to think of as potential sponsors. Just be very clear about what it is EXACTLY that they have that you like so much. Don't be vague if you can possibly help it.

Check them out with other AA members:
Also, its perfectly ok to go to their home group and ask other people who know them or other Sponsees what they are like. As the impression you have of them may be misleading. Check the potential sponsor out with other 'trusted servants' and see what they say. Just in case.

Answers to your Prayers

God has only three answers to your prayers:
Yes
Yes, but not now
No, because I have something better for you

(This is an old one, but I was just reminded of it today). I have found it to be true in my recovery anyway. I trust when things drift apart, that it's time for one chapter to end so that another one can begin. Basically I have faith in 'failure' as a necessary closing of one door, to make way for the new.
So often we cling to 'the old ideas'. Anything familiar basically. Whether its good for us or bad for us, because we think there will be nothing better. What a load of !!! Very limited thinking! Our higher power has MUCH better plans for us! (Well that's what it's been like for me anyhow)

P100
When we look back, we realize that the things which came to us when we put ourselves in God’s hands were better than ANYTHING we could have planned. Follow the dictates of a Higher Power and you WILL, (not might) presently live in a new and wonderful world, no matter what your present circumstances!
p63
Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, IF we kept close to Him and performed His work well.

By the way, when asking your higher power for help with ANYTHING, always finish it it off with 'IF it's your will', JUST IN CASE you ask for something that you can't handle!!!. Like they say... 'If you pray for an elephant, make sure you've got a big back garden!'

Want some advice or feedback from a 'Wise Being'? Try Active Imagination!

WARNING. You motive for having this conversation should NOT be selfish.
If you want to 'better' your life, in ANY way shape or form,
It should be for THE BENEFIT OF ALL SENTIENT BEINGS
And NO other reason.
You have been warned!!!
Selfishness does NOT work well for you in the realm of the Spirit!!!
What goes around comes around and all that...
Also please be respectful when you do this.

Hmm. How do I explain this.... (without sounding like a lunatic!!)
As far as I am concerned, this is a step 11 'trick'.
This can be done by anyone, but I normally explain how to this AFTER step 9.

Basically you can talk to ANYONE.
Here's how

Personally I like to have a nice space to do this in. Its no different than when you have guests round for dinner. You want to have the place nice. Its not REALLY important, but it IS a nice thing to do.
Its not a ranting opportunity. More of a 'consultation'.
I instinctively feel like I ought to be very respectful when I have these consultations. I don't do them willy nilly. Even though I feel as though I could. I only do this if I feel I have something important I need to consult with them about. I do not want to be more of a drain on 'them' than I absolutely need to. I encourage you to be respectful of this process whilst at the same time, being as honest as you can.

Make a cup of tea, sit down and have a chat with a 'Wise Being'.
Out loud. Or in your head if you are more adept.
Just 'imagine' that there is a wise being there, and you are chatting to 'he/she/it'

Just see what happens..
Try it for, say 30mins or so to start with
But once you get the 'hang' of it, you can do it more instantaneously and for shorter periods.

Ask advice..
Questions..
What do you think of this? Type of thing..
Or what do you make of that?..
Or do you think I'm full of shit?..
Or Am I kidding myself about this?..
Or I just don't know what I'm doing here!..
Or what do YOU think I should do about this?..
Or will I EVER get better at 'x'......

Just about anything you like really..

The rule is BE HONEST.
NOT 'nice'

Tell the truth!
Be yourself!
Stop pretending!
Tell it like it is!
And listen!

Write down the 'feedback' that comes into your head AFTER you have spoken your 'truth', (for no other reason than) you will probably forget it if you don't.
Don't write it down at the time. Wait untill after the 'conversation' has taken place before you start jotting down the perceptions that come into your head.

Tell me how you get on with this because I always like hearing how this goes..

Disclaimer. This should BENEFIT you.
If for some reason you feel WORSE instead of BETTER after you have done this
Then as far as I am concerned. You are doing it WRONG. So please do NOT do it until I have had a chance to give you some corrective feedback.
So please consult me if this is not 'working' for you.

PS Active Imagination has its origins in the Jungian Tradition, but is mirrored in many other faiths and traditions. Basically its a universal truth as far as Im concerned, but I cant be bothered explaining it to be honest. Have fun!

Step Two. - the Minimum Requirement

We needed to ask ourselves but ONE short question.
"Do I now believe,
or am I even willing to believe,
that there is a Power greater than myself?"

Chapter 1. BILL'S STORY page 12
Nothing more was required of me to make my beginning.

Tradition 2. It HAS to be a LOVING Power. Not JUGMENTAL or PUNISHING.
A Constructive not a Destructive force.

Look up the word POWER in the dictionary.
The word is POWER not God. Don't get them confused.
Mull over the word 'Power' and see what images come to mind..
Personally I like the visualization of 'Power' in the cinema. Like in the X men, star wars or star trek type things. They often try to dramatize 'Power' at some point in the storyline. This is a useful tool to help us meditate on what the word 'Power' means to us.

As soon as a man can say
that he does believe,
or is willing to believe,
we emphatically assure him that he is on his way.

It has been repeatedly proven among us
that upon this simple cornerstone
a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.

Chapter 4. WE AGNOSTICS page 47
At the start, this was all we needed to commence spiritual growth,
to effect our first conscious relation
with God as we understood Him.

Chapter 4. WE AGNOSTICS
page 55
the consciousness of your belief is sure to come to you.

Here are some ideas for a concept of a Power Greater than Yourself

The Power of AA as a whole
The collective power of the group.
The Power that makes the Earth turn
Good Orderly Direction
Group Of Drunks
The sense of magnitude you get when you look at the stars at night.
The Universe..
Gravity

The more you think about it, the more you realize that everybody has a concept of a power greater than themselves.
Think what life would be like if the world was full of people that thought they were the most powerful entity in the universe. (!) weird huh?

If sex is troublesome...

Chapter 5. HOW IT WORKS page 69
We remembered always that our sex powers were God-given
and therefore good,
neither to be used lightly or selfishly
nor to be despised and loathed.

Chapter 5. HOW IT WORKS page 70
If sex is very troublesome,
we throw ourselves the harder into helping others.
We think of their needs and work for them.
This takes us out of ourselves.
It quiets the imperious urge,
when to yield would mean heartache.

Chapter 5. HOW IT WORKS page 70
To sum up about sex:
We earnestly pray for the right ideal,
for guidance in each questionable situation,
for sanity,
and for the strength to do the right thing.

Chapter 5. HOW IT WORKS page 69
In this way we tried to shape a sane and sound ideal for our future sex life.

Chapter 5. HOW IT WORKS page 69
We asked God to mold our ideals
and help us to live up to them.

Chapter 5. HOW IT WORKS page 69
Whatever our ideal turns out to be,
we MUST be willing to grow toward it.

Chapter 5. HOW IT WORKS page 70
If we are not sorry,
and our conduct continues to harm others,
we are quite sure to drink.

Identifiying the 'Prayers' in the Big Book

Step Three Prayer
Chapter 5. HOW IT WORKS page 63
God, I offer myself to Thee --
to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self,
that I may better do Thy will.
Take away my difficulties,
that victory over them
may bear witness to those I would help
of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.
May I do Thy will always!

Step Seven Prayer
Chapter 6. INTO ACTION page 76
My Creator,
I am now willing that you should have all of me,
good and bad.
I pray that you now remove from me
every single defect of character
which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows.
Grant me strength, as I go out from here,
to do your bidding.
Amen.

Chapter 5. HOW IT WORKS page 70
To sum up about sex:
We earnestly pray for the right ideal,
for guidance in each questionable situation,
for sanity,
and for the strength to do the right thing.

Chapter 6. INTO ACTION page 85
How can I best serve Thee?,
Thy will (not mine) be done."
These are thoughts which MUST go with us CONSTANTLY.

Chapter 1. BILL'S STORY page 13
I was to sit quietly when in doubt,
asking only for direction and strength to meet my problems
as He would have me.
Never was I to pray for myself,
except as my requests bore on my usefulness to others.
Then only might I expect to receive.
But that would be in great measure.

Chapter 5. HOW IT WORKS
page 59
Sought through prayer and meditation
to improve our conscious contact with God
as we understood Him ,
praying only for knowledge of His will for us
and the power to carry that out.

Chapter 6. INTO ACTION
page 86
Before we begin,
we ask God to direct our thinking,
especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity,
dishonest or self-seeking motives.

Great Spirit Prayer

"Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the wind,

Whose breath gives life to all the world.

Hear me; I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice

Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people.

Help me to remain calm and strong in the face of all that comes towards me.

Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

Help me seek pure thoughts and act with the intention of helping others.

Help me find compassion without empathy overwhelming me.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy

Myself.

Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.

So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.

Do good 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 may spend years building, someone may destroy overnight...
build anyway

If you find serenity and happiness, people 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 have anyway

You see, in the final analysis, it's all between you and God...
it was never between you and them anyway

Mother Teresa