People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

— Mother Teresa

i have found human touch to be one of the most healing forms of love available, by nurturing us in ways that solitude can not provide. our worries seem to disappear when we fall into the arms of a loved one, when we open our hearts to receive love, when we allow ourselves to feel the love buried deep within.  

the following video reminds us how difficult it is to let love in. we build walls around our hearts; we shield ourselves with armor assuming it will protect us from harm when in reality we are only depriving ourselves of the powerful force we call love. we push it away because we are afraid of becoming vulnerable, fearing that we will be seen as weak. it is only through vulnerability and openness that we find our true power. loving another takes strength and absolute courage. we forget how beautiful life can be with those who see through us, who take the time to understand us, who offer us a piece of their heart.  

“we think that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. the greatest poverty is being rejected, unwanted, unloved, uncared for, having forgotten what is human love, what is human touch.” ~ mother teresa