What 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 at all and have the best time.
I've learned-
	that sometimes the people you expect 
	to kick you when you are down
	will be the ones to help you get back up.
I've learned-
	that sometimes when I am 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 learn 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 have 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 can 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.