The Beginning of My Growth

AFTER AWHILE

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 are not contracts,
and present's aren’t promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes ahead...

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…
you really are strong,
you really do have worth.

And you learn, and you learn…
with every goodbye,

You Learn…

I read this poem and I was captivated by the author's message. The last two words of the poem are "you learn" , and the they are the most powerful to me. I personally believe that their are two type of people in this world. People that learn from their experiences and grow; and then there are people that let their experiences stunt their growth.
I say that you should learn and grow from everything that happens to you. If it was a good experience then...Do it again. If it was bad..move on, remember what you didn't like about it, and try not to do it again...Sounds simple when I say it like that, but its really not. It takes time to learn how to do this...I'm still in that process, but I am getting better at it, which means I am growing as a person.
I'd rather learn from 1000 mistakes then one day look back on my life and realize that I didn't live it to the fullest. I'm living life and trying to "grow" through my mistakes.

You only get one life, Make it count!!!!!

People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built. ~Eleanor Roosevelt