recently, i've been learning a lot about life. like how people aren't always who you think they are, sometimes they're better and sometimes they're worse. i've learned not to take things so seriously all the time because in the end, little things don't usually matter. i've learned not to rush things or they don't turn out the way you plan. i know that what shallow high school students think doesn't matter; you probably won't see them ever again. i know that in order to achieve your goals you have to plan ahead, but that if you plan too far ahead you never have any fun. i've learned that people have a lasting affect on your life, they're what make you who you are. but i've also learned that you can't always count on them and that you can't get to attatched becasue they lie and they leave you and they die. i've learned that most people care more about their appearance and what other people think of them more than they care about their happiness or how they affect others. i've learned that people play favorites even among their own family and family doesn't always mean love. i've learned the world isn't fair, but there is nothing anyone can do about it, so you have to deal and make the best of what you've got. i know that what i've got is more than what 95% of the population of the world has. i've learned that people suck. and that stereotypes are true most of the time, or else they wouldn't exist. i know that being beautiful isn't any better than being ugly; you're always going to want something more. i've learned that people are pompous and humble and creul and wonderful; all at the same time. i know that in order to be happy you have to love, but if you love too much, you will be disapointed and unhappy. i know you have to protect yourself from the world, because even the ones you love will cause you harm if you let them. i've learned that in order to survive and be happy and to love, you need to learn these lessons and apply them. i've also learned that you can't hide yourself away from the world or you'll never even have a shot at feeling any of these things, and it is better to have felt hurt, lost, confused, unhappy, disapointed, angry. it is better to have felt these things because to have felt these things you have to have felt love and happiness. people taught me all of this. people that i loved and hated and people that made me happy and made me angry. people that have hurt me. from myself. to all those people: thank you.