There are people who we associate or work with that need those spotlight moments. Even if they are menial successes or something that’s really part of their job description, they want it noticed as front page headlines, announcing to the world their tasks and accomplishments.

They say that “people who shine from within don’t need the spotlight”. But humility is wanting in many of us nowadays. There will always be someone, somewhere who somehow wants to be a star.

Pride will always want to get in the way because pride will always be concerned on who is right while humility with what is right. There’s a thin line that delineates between being confidence and arrogance. That line is called humility. Remember that confidence smiles while arrogance smirks.

The test of a great person is one’s humility. When one is humble, one has a modest opinion of one’s self importance and a lack of pretention, superiority and arrogance.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta writes about a “humility list”.

– speak as little as possible about yourself

– keep busy with your own affairs and not those of others

– avoid curiosity

– accept contempt, being forgotten and disregarded

– accept small irritations with good humor

– do not dwell on the fruits of others

– accept censures even if unmerited

– give in to the will of others

– accept insults and injuries

– do not interfere in the affairs of others

– be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone

And yes, the list isn’t an easy one to follow especially when we need to fight for what is right and what is just. It is not asking us to give up what is fair and correct. It is asking us to be selfless. After all, to forgive takes love. To forget takes humility.