I've Learned

I've learned-

that you cannot make someone love you.

All you can do is be someone who can be loved.

The rest is up to them.

I've learned-

that no matter how much I care,

some people just don't care back.

I've learned-

that it takes years to build up trust,

and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned-

that it's not what you have in your life

but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned-

that you can get by on charm for about

fifteen minutes.

After that, you'd better know something.

I've learned-

that you shouldn't compare

yourself to the best others can do.

I've learned-

that you can do something in an instant

that will give you heartache for life.

I've learned-

that it's taking me a long time

to become the person I want to be.

I've learned-

that you should always leave loved ones

with loving words. It may be the last

time you see them.

I've learned-

that you can keep going

long after you can't.

I've learned-

that we are responsible for what we do,

no matter how we feel.

I've learned-

that either you control your attitude

or it controls you.

I've learned-

that regardless of how hot and steamy

a relationship is at first, the passion fades

and there had better be something else to take

its place.

I've learned-

that heroes are the people

who do what has to be done

when it needs to be done,

regardless of the consequences.

I've learned-

that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned-

that my best friend and I can do anything

or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned-

that sometimes the people you expect

to kick you when you're down

will be the ones to help you get back up.

I've learned-

that sometimes when I'm angry

I have the right to be angry,

but that doesn't give me

the right to be cruel.

I've learned-

that true friendship continues to grow,

even over the longest distance.

Same goes for true love.

I've learned-

that just because someone doesn't love

you the way you want them to doesn't

mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned-

that maturity has more to do with

what types of experiences you've had

and what you've learned from them

and less to do with how many

birthdays you've celebrated.

I've learned-

that you should never tell a child

their dreams are unlikely or outlandish.

Few things are more humiliating, and what

a tragedy it would be if they believed it.

I've learned-

that your family won't always be there for you.

It may seem funny, but people you aren't

related to can take care of you and love you

and teach you to trust people again. Families

aren't biological.

I've learned-

that no matter how good a friend is,

they're going to hurt you every once in a while

and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned-

that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by

others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive

yourself.

I've learned-

that no matter how bad your heart is broken

the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned-

that our background and circumstances

may have influenced who we are,

but we are responsible for who we

become.

I've learned-

that just because two people argue,

it doesn't mean they don't love each other

And just because they don't argue,

it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned-

that we don't have to change friends

if we understand that friends change.

I've learned-

that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a

secret. It could change your life forever.

I've learned-

that two people can look at the exact same thing

and see something totally different.

I've learned-

that no matter how you try to protect your

children, they will eventually get hurt and

you will hurt in the process.

I've learned-

that your life can be changed in a matter of

hours by people who don't even know you.

I've learned-

that even when you think you have no more

to give, when a friend cries out to you,

you will find the strength to help.

I've learned-

that credentials on the wall

do not make you a decent human being.

I've learned-

that the people you care about most in life

are taken from you too soon.

I've learned-

that it's hard to determine where to draw

the line between being nice and not hurting

people's feelings and standing up

for what you believe

For in my life,

I've learned-

that no matter how hard I tried to be perfect

just because people asked me to be

in the end it's my choice that counts

because it's my life and I'm the one who's living it

and that only God may judge me