The Vows of Friendship ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~= 3D= ~ Friends forever, she said. Friends forever, he said. Eight years old and they made the vow to remain friends forever. I need some room, she said. I'll back away, he said. Ten years old and they made the vow to give each other space. Does Tommy like me? she asked. I'll find out, he said. Twelve years old and he made the vow to find out if Tommy liked her. He doesn't love me anymore, she said. He doesn't deserve you, he said. Fourteen years old and he made the vow to love her forever. Nobody loves me, she said. I know someone who does, he said. Sixteen years old and he made the vow to love her forever. I'm getting married, she said. I'll be there, he said. Eighteen years old and he made the vow to forever hold his peace. I got divorced yesterday, she said. I'm here for you, he said. Twenty years old and he made the vow to be there for her forever. Why doesn't anyone love me? she asked. I have always loved you, he said. Twenty-two years old and he made the vow to keep on loving her. I could never love you, she said. I could never stop, he said. Twenty-four years old and he made the vow to never love again. I can never see you again, she said. I can never live again, he said. Twenty-six years old and he made the vow to never live again. I'm sorry, she said. Twenty-eight years old and he made the vow as he lay in an open casket. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <3<3<3<3<3<3<3 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 i= n Your life that counts. I've learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. >Af= ter 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 downwill 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 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 youare 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.