I have learned

I have learned… Ive 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.Ive learned- that no matter how much I care, some people just dont care back.Ive learned- that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it. Ive learned-that no matter how good a friend is, theyre going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.Ive learned-that its not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.Ive learned-that you should never ruin an apology with an excuse.Ive learned-that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, youd better know something.Ive learned-that you shouldnt compare yourself to the best others can do.Ive learned-that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.Ive learned-that its taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.Ive learned-that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.Ive learned-that you can keep going long after you cant.Ive learned-that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.Ive learned-that either you control your attitude or it controls you.Ive 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.Ive learned-that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.Ive learned-that money is a lousy way of keeping score.Ive learned-that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.Ive learned-that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when youre down will be the ones to help you get back up.Ive learned-that sometimes when Im angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesnt give me the right to be cruel.Ive learned-that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.Ive le arned-that just because someone doesnt love you the way you want them to doesnt mean they dont love you with all they have.Ive learned-that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences youve had and what youve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays youve celebrated.Ive 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.Ive learned-that your family wont always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you arent related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families arent biological.Ive learned-that it isnt always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you are to learn to forgive yourself.Ive learned-that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesnt stop for your grief.Ive learned-that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we bec ome.Ive learned-that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.Ive learned-that just because two people argue, it doesnt mean they dont love each other. And just because they dont argue, it doesnt mean they do.Ive learned-that we dont have to change friends if we understand that friends change.Ive learned-that you shouldnt be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.Ive learned-that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.Ive learned-that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.Ive 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.Ive learned-that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.Ive learned-that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.Ive learned-that its hard to determine where to dra w the line between being nice and not hurting peoples feelings, and standing up for what you believe.Ive learned-that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.By Omer B. Washington