These Are A Part of Me

One time when I was doubting myself (I have done that often) and a friend shared this poem by Leo Ralston.  It helped.

In Some Ways, However Small and Secret

	"In some way, however small and secret, each of us is a little mad.
	Everyone is lonely at bottom, and cries to be understood,
	But we can never entirely understand anyone else,
	And each of us remains part stranger, Even to those who love us.
	It is the weak who are cruel; gentleness can only be expected from the strong.
	Those who do not know fear are not really brave,
	For courage is the capacity to confront what can be imagined.
	And you can understand people better if you look at them,
	no matter how old or impressive they are as if they are children;
	For most of us never really mature; we simply grow older.
	And happiness comes only when we push our hearts and brains
	to the farthest reaches of which they are capable,
	For the purpose of life is to matter;  . . . to count;  . . . to stand for something;
	To have it make some difference that you lived at all."