The Pain And The Passion....

Sometimes people come into your life and
you know right away that
they were meant to be there,
they serve some sort of purpose,
teach you a lesson, or
help figure out who you are and who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be:
your neighbor, child, long lost friend, lover, or
even a complete stranger who,
when you lock eyes with them, you know
at that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you,
and at the time they seem painful and unfair,
but in reflection you realize
that without overcoming those obstacles
you would have never realized your potential strength, will power, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason,
nothing happens by chance
or by means of good or bad luck.
Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of our souls...

Without these tests,
whether they be events, illnesses, or relationships,
life would be like a straight smoothly paved flat road to nowhere, safe
and comfortable,
but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life
and the successes and downfalls you experience
create who you are,
and even the bad experiences can be learned from.
In fact, they are probably the poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you,
forgive them,
for they have helped you learn about trust
and the importance of being cautious to whom you give your heart.

If someone loves you,
love them back unconditionally,
not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love
and opening your heart and eyes to things
you would have never seen or felt without them.

Make every day count,
appreciate every moment
and take from it everything that you possibly can
for you may never experience it again...

Talk to people you have never talked to before,
and actually listen,
let yourself fall in love
break free and set your sights high...

Hold your head up
because you have every right to.
Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself,
no one else will believe in you either.
You can make of your life anything that you wish...

Create your own life
and then go out and live it!
Live each day as if it is your last...
Because tomorrow is not promised...

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