If You Can..

If You Can..

If you can start the day without caffeine;
If you can get going without pep pills;
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches
and pains;

If you can resist complaining and boring people
with your troubles; 
If you can eat the same food every day and be
grateful for it; 
If you can understand when your loved ones are
too busy to give you any time;

If you can forgive a friend's lack of consideration;
If you can overlook it when those you love take it
out on you when,
through no fault of your own, something goes wrong;
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment; 

If you can ignore a friend's limited education and
never correct him; 
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than
a poor friend; 
If you can face the world without lies and deceit;

If you can conquer tension without medical help; 
If you can relax without liquor; 
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs;

If you can honestly say that deep in your heart
you have no prejudice
against creed or color, religion or politics; then,
my friend, you are
almost as good as your dog.