[Must Read] I Have Learned - A Poem

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 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’s not what you have in your life

but who you have in your life that counts.

I’ve learned

that you should never ruin

 an apology with an excuse.

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 you should always leave loved ones

with loving words because

It may be the last time you see them.

I’ve learned

that you can keep going

long after you think 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 still have the best time.

I’ve learned

that sometimes the people you expect

to kick you when you’re down

will 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 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 always biological.

I’ve learned

that it isn’t always enough

to be forgiven by others

Sometimes you are 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 a rich person is not the one who has the most

 but is one who needs the least.

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 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.

I’ve 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.

Written by Omer B. Washington

Cover image via womenonthefence