After a while you learn

the subtle difference between

holding a hand and chaining a soul

and you learn that love doesn't mean possession

and that company doesn't mean security

You begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts

and presents aren't promises

and you start to accept your deafeats

with your head up and your eyes ahead

with the grace of a woman not the grief of a child.

And you begin to build your roads today

because tomorrows ground is too uncertain for plans

and futures have ways of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns

if you get too much

So you plant your own garden

and decorate your own soul

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers

And you learn that you really can endure

that you really are strong

and you really do have worth.

and you learn...

and you learn...

with every hello and goodbye...

you learn.


    Okay, so i didn't write this. It was a blog that a friend of mine posted and i felt that it needed some recognition and i always like to put my 2 cents into things.

I read this poem and was a little shocked at how it affected me. But those who know me will agree that i take everything as a learning experience. So i support the idea that you learn from your life. That with each person that you meet and place that you go you can choose to take something from it. Not actually steal something - i'm not telling you to be a thief or anything, but figuratively take something away from it.

I was having a discussion with a few friends today about worth. Does anyone actually know their own worth. Do you? I don't. i know when i need to say enough is enough. To put a check in the "this was definitely a learning experience" box (which most of the time means that whatever it was- it wasn't good.). Everyone has their limits. But i think those limits vary depending on the situation and how invovled you are emotionally. I digress....

I encorporate "everything is a learning experience" with "everything happens for a reason".... i use those two phrases often (what feels like these days as - way too often) but they are still sayings that i believe in. I truly believe you can learn so much about other people and about yourself from the relationships that you have in your life. Especially when you think you know someone and then feel betrayed when you realize that you really don't. You only know who people let you see, and sometimes that is not who they truly are. Do you then blame yourself for being foolish? or them for misleading you?

Apparently i'm in a ranting mood today guys, sorry. :)

"Everything happens for a reason"... Holy crap... I agree with that. The hardest part about believing in that is that when things are shitty- it's hard to figure out what the reason is for deserving it, or why it happened. And this , ladies and gentlemen is when i revert back to "everything is a learning experience"... See? It works well.... Everything happens for a reason, yeah well why did this happen? Oh, it was a learning experience.. Okay, i got it. I learned.

All kidding aside i think that poeple need to be more aware of how they treat each other. I need to - i know that. But, something that doesn't matter to you may mean alot to someone else, you never know. And whether or not we learn something from our best and worst times is up to us. We decide to take responsibilty and say - "ugh, that was dumb" and don't do it again. Or we see something great and that made us smile so we share it with others. We learn that a good hug can make someone's day or at least help them get through it a little easier... and a lie can ruin everything. We learn that promises aren't always kept, no matter how many times they are promised. We learn that having cream puffs with a good freind is just as great as with anyone else.... (? uh, nirvana little help on that one.... ) We see how being able to trust someone completely - a friend - can make you a a stronger person. We  learn that laughing really is the best medicine.

We've all been hurt. We've all been truly happy. The challenge is taking it all in, sorting it out, and becoming better for it... for all of it.

I'm blessed with a wonderful family and great friends who i consider my family as well.... Each one of you help me figure things out, help me stick to my decisions, help me through the days when i'm just exhausted... You make me laugh, you let me talk, you let me listen, and you let me do what i can to help when you need it. I chose to learn from each of you. Take something from every relationship- to be a better person and a better friend. You guys make my life not only interesting.... but charmed.