Wise Words

It won't be surprising to most that I keep a journal with poems, quotes and lyrics that I love.  (I mean, it makes sense since I take pictures of my nail polish and my clothes, after all)  I've kept this journal since I was in about junior high.  I took it out the other night and was reading through it.  Some of the pages made me laugh (let's be honest I have Mariah Carey lyrics in there--don't judge).   I wanted to share one that always gets me.  I probably copied it in my book over 10 years ago (during a heart broken period).  But I still read it and it still rings true.

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 always 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 ahead

with the grace of 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

you really are strong

you really do have worth

and you learn

and you learn

with every goodbye, you learn...

Veronica A. Shoffstall

 

 

Do any of you have one of these books with poems/lyrics/quotes?  Maybe someday I'll compile it with a forward and get it published.  Speaking of which....I need to get the new Caroline Kennedy book. 

 

Happy Friday!!