in memoriam boston marathon

Multiple media outlets have reported that two explosions have rocked the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

Multiple media outlets have reported that two explosions have rocked the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The NYTimes reports that when the explosions happened, several thousand runners were still on the race course.  At press time, 2 people were dead and 22 injured. My thoughts are with the participants and volunteers of the race as well as the first responders who fearlessly run into the line of danger for our safety.

On a day like today, Leonard Bernstein’s quote on replying to violence is extremely poignant:

We musicians, like everyone else, are numb with sorrow at this murder, and with rage at the senselessness of the crime. But this sorrow and rage will not inflame us to seek retribution; rather they will inflame our art. Our music will never again be quite the same. This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.

Peace.

Monday Thinking: The Anyway Rules

A reminder for Monday: Do good anyway.

tumblr_ls57vmTBWj1qij8g6These rules, originally titled The Paradoxical Commandments, were written by Kent Keith for a book for emerging student leaders. (I call them the Anyway Rules.) They were made famous by the Mother Teresa as these were an inscription in her home for children.

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

Just do good anyway.