After a While

After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul. You will learn that love doesn’t mean total dependence and company doesn’t mean security. You learn that kisses aren’t contracts and presents are not promises.

After a while you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and eyes open, with the grace of an adult and not the grief of a child.

You will learn to build all your roads in today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans. After a while you learn that even those who love you will hurt you and that even sunshine burns if you get too much.

So, plant your garden and decorate your own soul… instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers… and you will learn that you really can endure, that you really are strong, and you really do have worth and dignity and inner beauty and being an adult is pretty neat.