Just Do The Right Thing Anyway

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies..." - Psalm 23:5 NKJV

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or how the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly...who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause...Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure...than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt

One of my favorite superheroes back in the day was Spider Man; he's my son's absolute favorite now (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I guess...LOL). Anyway, I liked Spidey, and was glad to introduce the "wallcrawler" to my son, because of a very important life lesson he taught me, a lesson Spider Man learned the hard way. Due to neglect, a close relative Spider Man loved and admired was murdered by a criminal he failed to apprehend when he had the chance. He learned too late a most painful lesson:

With great power there must also always be great responsibility.

Spider Man carried that lesson with a heavy heart, fighting crime for the benefit of ungrateful people who did not appreciate his efforts. He was called a criminal, he was misunderstood and distrusted, his motives always questioned. He did the right thing anyway, helping people whenever and wherever he could, even those who didn't know his story. In the face of all the abuse he endured, but he did his best to use the great power he'd been given wisely and responsibly, for as long as he had it. Now as far as I know, none of us in real life spin webs, climb walls (though admittedly, we may drive people up a wall at times, but that's a topic for another time...smile), or swing between buildings thwarting evil, but that doesn't mean we don't run into our share of critics. As long as we walk this earth, there will be people who disagree with us and find fault with us for reasons known only to them. I heard a saying recently which rings true:

It matters not how sweet a peach you are, you will always be criticized by someone who doesn't like peaches. 

It's a fact of life, as sure as death, taxes, and the night that follows day: somebody, somewhere is going to not like something about you. It doesn't matter whether they have a valid reason or not, somebody will criticize you for just for being you. In fact, there are three days people will talk about you, for better or worse: the day you're born, the day you die, and every day in between. But the real issue isn't what they say, it's how you respond. Years ago a friend told me, It's not what they call you, it's what you answer to. If you know what they say is not true about you, don't identify with it. Period. Just keep a smile on your face and keep the line moving.  Criticism didn't stop Spider Man from doing what he knew to be right, and it doesn't have to stop you either. Criticism never built a life, a relationship, or a business, but it has torn plenty of them down. Nobody ever built a monument to a critic, but there are many buildings that were destroyed by critics.

So everybody doesn't agree with you...so what?  So everybody doesn't like you...so what? So everybody doesn't want to get to know you, go into business with you, have anything to do with you...so what? And so what if everybody doesn't understand what you do, or why you're doing it? It could be that there is nothing wrong with what you're doing, and that if anybody has a problem with the way you do things, then maybe what you're doing is not for them.  Did you ever think about that? There's a saying in the sports world among coaches which goes something like this:  If you spend too much time listening to the fans, before long you'll be sitting with them. If your critics are not going to help you, then by all means don't let them do anything to harm you.

You're not everybody's cup of tea, and everybody's not yours. Deal with it. Adjust. If a pizza parlor can live with the fact that everybody doesn't like pepperoni, and a burger stand can handle the fact that everybody doesn't like cheeseburgers, and an ice cream stand can adjust when they learn that some people would rather have frozen yogurt than ice cream, then it's okay for you to live with the knowledge that you're not everybody's flavor of the month. Do the best you can, the best you know how, with what you know best. And if some people criticize because they don't "get" you, just say:  "Some will, some won't...SO WHAT? NEXT!"

"You spend too much time worrying what other people think of you. A lion doesn't concern himself with the opinions of the sheep." - Tywin Lannister

Just like Spider Man, even when people don't understand, do the right thing. Even when people criticize, do the right thing. Even when people accuse you of selfish motives, do the right thing. Even when people try to make you look like someone you're not, someone you've never been and someone you'll never be, just keep doing the right thing. Whether it's your personal life or in business, keep doing the right thing, because for every step you take, each tongue that rises against you in condemnation will be proven wrong. When the smoke settles and the dust clears, you'll be at peace, safe in the knowledge that the softest pillow you can ever sleep on is a clear conscience.

"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 spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they 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've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway."

- Found inscribed on wall of Mother Teresa's children's home, Calcutta, India

That's all for now, gotta run.  Until we meet again, remember:

Keep it simple...See ya! 

P.S.  Criticism is just one type of adversity. Watch this video to learn how to handle all kinds of problems:   http://bit.ly/1m3HgNZ