After a while, you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
You learn that love doesn’t mean leaning and company doesn’t mean security,
You begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises,
You begin to accept your defeats with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,
You learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans,
You find that futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight,
And 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.
You learn that you really can endure… that you really are stronger than the pastÂ
And you really do have worth and you learn and learn…
With every goodbye, you learn.