Sitting Quietly: On Integrity

(From the poem Anyway *)

Integrity is defined as “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles,” and can be described as meaning that “you live in accordance to your deepest values.” But here is guide, provided in the form of a poem from Mother Teresa, that goes beyond definition and reminds us of just what we can do to live our lives with integrity…

…as it suggests that maybe integrity is as much about striving as it is about being.

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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…others may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today…may all be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have…and it may never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end…it is between you and [your] God.

It was never between you and them…anyway.

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*by Mother Teresa