The Accounting of Love and Hospitality –

Do enough for others that it’s impossible
For them to keep accounts
Of what they owe you
Or what you’ve done.

Lose the account yourself,
Expect nothing in return.

Make a habit of giving things away.
Pay for other people’s meal,
Friends and strangers.
Keep no accounts on that either.

Take what is offered to you,
But expect or demand nothing.

Tell the people in your life
That you appreciate them
As often as you can.
There may be a day when you can’t.

Tell your kids and spouse that you love them,
Often and every night.
Remind yourself
What it is you love about them.

Look for ways to be kind and helpful,
There is plenty to find.

Do things without telling others
You’ve done them.
Don’t even remind yourself.
Do acts of kindness, then let them go.

Live life without clinging to expectations
About who you should be.

Your friends and family will change,
Everything does, you will.
Life has a lot of additions and subtraction;
Change is inevitable.

Spend time mindfully changing yourself
Towards kindness and patience.

At the end of your life,
Which could be any moment,
Let the ones that knew you
Have lived a better life because you were there.

Let your accounts be settled
And forgive other people’s.