“Thoughts of Mankind”
By Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable,
illogical, and self centered.
Forgive them 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,
others 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.

 

 

 

 

As I have gotten older I have recognized the fact that I am truly blessed. I know that I have so much more than many people in our great country. Because of this I feel it is my path to give back. Recently I took portraits for Arapahoe House. They are a much needed organization that helps people kick addictions. The day of the photography sessions I was upbeat and professional. I had a wonderful time meeting all the women and their children. I was lucky enough to get many hugs and smiles from these impish kids. The next day was a different story. The next day the reality of these woman and their children hit me and I was overwhelmed with sadness. Why, I asked myself. Why does life have to be so hard and traumatic for some people? I realized I will never know the answer to that question. All I know is that everyone in some way, has been touched by addiction. Whether you have a family member or know someone who knows someone. Addiction is insidious; it knows no bounds or social status. I had a beautiful friend Andreia who was unable to come to terms with her addiction and on her birthday this March she took many pills and drank herself to death. This disturbed me so much that I started thinking about what could I do, how could I make a small difference in someone’s life who is suffering from this disease we call addiction. This is why I jointed up with Arapahoe house to photograph these women with their children. I feel like if they have a wonderful portrait of their family with them they can use it to draw strength from and be proud that they are staying clean and sober. Not only for themselves but the children that they so love. Even if I can help one person think twice about picking up a drink I will have accomplished my goal. As time goes on I will continue to work with Arapahoe House and their giving staff of local Hero’s in any way I can to help spread the word to stomp out addiction! http://www.arapahoehouse.org/