From the Porch
No more Mr. Bad Shoe Dude
Dwight Otwell

I wonder if I am achieving goody two-shoe status.

I have been trying to improve myself for a number of years. I have failed many times and sometimes I backslide as a goody two-shoes.

I may find myself criticizing others, questioning what use it is to try to be nice to everybody. They don't appreciate it anyway.

I may even try to revert to the bad shoe dude, who is selfcentered, arrogant and out to get what he can from the world. He thinks of himself first, and other people are just in this world for him to use.

But then I stop and think of the rewards that have come from losing, like shedding unneeded weight, some of my self-centered ways. It has bought peace and happiness that a bad shoe dude would never know.

And being a goody twoshoes doesn't mean that I am better than anyone else. When I see someone acting in an inappropriate way towards others, I think, "But for the grace of God" that would be me."

I really like a piece written by the late Mother Teresa. It is entitled "Do it Anyway."

"People are 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 God. It was never between you and them anyway."