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Dead at Midnight
by Og Mandino
[credo]
Treat everyone you meet, friend or foe, loved one or stranger,
as if they were going to be dead at midnight. Extend to each person,
no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding
and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward.
Your life will never be the same again!
If you knew this secret, that this person, whomever, would be dead
at midnight, that this was their last day on earth, where would your
envy be? Your anger? Your hate? Your judgment? Your jealousy? Your ego?
Whatever negative emotion you are feeling. Whatever has kept you separate.
If you knew this one fact, they would be dead at midnight—that
this was their last day on earth? I think we would suddenly and dramatically
come from our hearts. We would be filled with love and kindness and
compassion for this very person. Whether a loved one we are in conflict
with, a total stranger, a friend. It doesn’t really matter whom.
No matter what may have gone before us with this person, in this conflict—would
it matter? I truly don’t think so. I think we all would be filled
with compassion. To overflowing.