A new friend of mine sent me a poem that was inscribed on the wall of Mother Teresa's children's home in Calcutta.
Whether or not you believe in God, I think everyone can take something from this... Competition is an illusion. The race is most often with yourself--and you have to be confident that you're going as hard as you can and doing it in a way that allows you to be honest with yourself and happy with who you see in the mirror.
"Anyway"
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.