Measure your life; and Others
Fear of the Unknown
Fear of the Unknown – a terrible fellow. He stands in hip boots and shakes fists in the air. He pulls frightening faces. He points and he paces. He laughs when he scares you. He just doesn’t care.
Fear of the Unknown – a terrible wild man. He’ll rip up your sofa and steal all your bread. He’ll total your car and embezzle your money. He’ll fire you, disown you, and leave you for dead.
Fear of the Unknown – a powerful fellow ’cause that’s what he’s told you and that’s what you think. But the truth of the truth (and it’s time that you knew it) is that Fear of the Unknown’s a weak, sniveling stink.
He is vanquished forever when questions are answered – his ill-mannered questions that torment at night – the questions that stand in the back of your closet – that jump out and get you and give you a fright.
“What if you fail here?” He whispers and teases. “What if they fire you and send you away? You’ll starve, don’t you know? You can’t handle disasters. You’re weak. You’re a coward. You’re foolish and lame.”
“What if you’re sick?” He mentions while moaning. “What if you’re so sick that you pass away? You’ll leave them behind without any money. They’ll suffer and hate you when you’re in your grave.”
Fear of the Unknown – a persistent fellow. He sits in the parlor and rides in your truck. He follows you closely and sticks to your clothing. He walks in your shadow and laughs when you’re stuck.
Fear of the Unknown – a sham of a fellow. His questions of terror you do need to hear. So listen and grab them and hold them and squeeze them. Write them and read them. Get rid of the fear.
Prepare for the worst things, the worst that he asks you. Decide what you’d do if your nightmares come true. Consider each one, from beginning to finish. How would you manage? What would you do?
And then he will leave you, old Fear of the Unknown. He’ll leave you alone. He will go far away. Preparing and planning when you hear his questions are certain to scare him. He’ll go without pay.
’Cause Fear of the Unknown loves shadows and darkness. Fear of the Unknown loves terror at night. He doesn’t like bravery or courage or action. He doesn’t like people who put up a fight.
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People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway.
The world is full of conflict. Choose Peace of mind anyway.
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Measure your life by the number of laughs you utter or inspire. Measure your life in the number of smiles you have shared. Measure your life in the amount of people you have loved. Measure your life by counting the kind acts you have performed. Measure your life by the number of times you have been patient. Measure your life by numbering the hands you have held, the stories you have listened to and the tears you have wiped.
Measure your life in the number of prayers you have uttered, the trials you have overcome, and the knowledge you have gained. Measure your life in the friendship you have offered, the support you have given, and the hope you have inspired.
Measure your life in the memories you have accumulated, the memories you have documented, and the memories you have saved. After all, when you reach the doorway that connects this life with the next, your memories will be all you have to carry with you on your new journey. Memories are the best thing you can leave behind for those who walk behind you. It is the memories you leave that will keep them connected to you forever.
So, measure your life in what really counts. Measure and weigh it. Consider it and cherish it. Measure your life in what really counts and everything else fades away.