"After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand
and chaining a soul,
and chaining a soul,
and you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
and company doesn’t 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 open,
with the grace of an adult, 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
because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down 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 … that you really are strong,
and you really do have worth,
and you learn, you learn, with every goodbye."
- Veronica A. Shoffstall
I like the bit about decorating your own soul rather than waiting for someone to bring you flowers .... love yourself as you are, rather than waiting for someone else to validate you, huh? Something, I'd do well to learn!
ReplyDeleteIt kind of encapsulates everything I've learned about life over the last six or so years...I'm still learning of course, but good to know some things have sunk in. Especially the bit about decorating your own soul, that was my favourite part too :)
ReplyDeleteLovely
ReplyDeleteWhat a beatiful sentiment :)
ReplyDeleteMy mom gave me a copy of this poem when I was in high school (many many years ago). It helped me through a lot of relationships and into the most important one - finding myself.
ReplyDeleteGreat share!