After Awhile

I did not write this but found it very meaningful and moving.

It mostly talks about goodbyes but that is not the part I zeroed in on.

"After a While"

After a while, you learn the subtle difference

Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn`t mean leaning

And company doesn`t mean security

And you begin to learn that kisses aren`t contracts

And presents aren't promises,

And you begin to accept your defeats

With your head up and your eyes open.

With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,

And you learn to build all your roads on today

Because tomorrow`s ground is too uncertain for plans.

And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight

After a while, you learn

That even sunshine burns if you get too much.

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure

That you really are strong.

And you really do have worth.

And you learn and learn

With every goodbye you learn.

by Veronica A. Shoffstall

( I really love that. `Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers`) Not that I don't get plenty of flowers, I do. This just says to me stop making others responsible for your own happiness.