"Myself"

This came from an e-mail I received from a friend... I really liked it and so I am sharing it with you all. I always try to keep my actions towards others with the following question in mind; "If I saw someone else act this same way would I want to be friends with them?" For the most part I would have to say the answer to the above question would be yes, but occasionally I do some stupid and thoughtless things and feel just awful afterwords, and think to myself, "No I probably would not want to be that person's friend, so why would another person want to be mine at this moment?" It kind of keeps my actions and how I treat others in line. That's just me though.

Myself

I have to live with myself, and so
I want to be fit for myself to know.
I want to be able as days go by
Always to look myself straight in the eye.
I don't want to stand, with the setting sun,
And hate myself for things I have done.
I don't want to keep on a closet shelf
A lot of secrets about myself,
And fool myself, as I come and go,
Into thinking that nobody else will know
The kind of person I really am;
I don't want to dress myself up in a sham.
I want to go out with my head erect,
I want to deserve all man's respect;
And here in the struggle for fame and wealth,
I want to be able to like myself.
I don't want to look at myself and know
That I am a bluffer, an empty show.
I can never hide myself from me:
I see what others may never see,
I know what others may never know.
I never can fool myself, and so,
Whatever happens, I want to be
Self-respecting and guilt-free.