The lessons I have learned

"Growing up I was taught two basic lessons: The help you receive coming up is the help you should give when you get there and, you're judged by the company you keep, so choose your company wisely.

These lessons have guided me through life and greatly influenced my decision to spend as much time as possible amongst young people who are eager to grow and learn.

If I can pass unto them these lessons I've learned, then I have done my mother proud." Martin Luther King Jr.

I saw the quote up there during my secondary years whilst preparing for my media club debate and it stuck to my head. And as time went by, I have come to learn some more personal lessons as I share with you today.

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 leraned-

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 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 you either 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 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. The 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 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 be 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.

I've learned-

That loyalty bought with money is fleeting and you can not trust a man who prefers money to humanity.

I've learned-

That everyone has a price. Yours may just not be money.

I've learned-

That someone can be in love with the idea of you and how you make them feel, and still not be in love with you.

I've learned-

That not everyone's suffering is a result of karma or life teaching them a lesson. It's just life happening as it ought to be and there are no lessons to be learned.

I've learned-

That most importantly, you accept the love you think you deserve.