The Little Purple Notebook On How To Escape From This Universe
                Copyleft � 1998 by Maximilian J. Sandor
            Subscription Information: Maria Loren [email protected]
               Website: http://transmillennium.net/pnohteftu/



Anonymous: What have you learned?


I've learned -
   that you cannot make someone love you.
   All you can do is
   be someone who can be loved.
   The rest is up to them.
I've learned -
   that no matter how much I care,
   some people just don't care back.
I've learned -
   that it takes years to build up trust,
   and only seconds to destroy it.
I've learned -
   that it's not what you have in your life
   but who you have in your life that counts.
I've learned -
   that you can get by on charm
   for about fifteen minutes.
   After that, you'd better know something.
I've learned -
   that you shouldn't compare
   yourself to the best others can do
   but to the best you can do.
I've learned -
   that it's not what happens to people
   that's important. It's what they do about it.
I've learned -
   that you can do something in an instant
   that will give you heartache for life.
I've learned -
   that no matter how thin you slice it,
   there are always two sides.
I've learned -
   that it's taking me a long time
   to become the person I want to be.
I've learned -
   that it's a lot easier
   to react than it is to think.
I've learned -
   that you should always leave
   loved ones with loving words.
   It may be the last time you see them.
I've learned -
   that you can keep going
   long after you think you can't.
I've learned -
   that we are responsible for what we do,
   no matter how we feel.
I've learned -
   that either you control your attitude
   or it controls you.
I've learned -
   that regardless of how hot and steamy
   a relationship is at first,
   the passion fades and there had better be
   something else to take its place.
I've learned -
   that heroes are the people
   who do what has to be done
   when it needs to be done,
   regardless of the consequences.
I've learned -
   that learning to forgive takes practice.
I've learned -
   that there are people who love you dearly,
   but just don't know how to show it.
I've learned -
   that money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I've learned -
   that my best friend and I can do anything
   or nothing and have the best time.
I've learned -
   that sometimes the people you expect
   to kick you when you're down
   will be the ones to help you get back up.
I've learned -
   that sometimes when I'm angry
   I have the right to be angry,
   but that doesn't give me
   the right to be cruel.
I've learned -
   that true friendship continues to grow,
   even over the longest distance.
   Same goes for true love.
I've learned -
   that just because someone doesn't love you
   the way you want them to doesn't mean
   they don't love you with all they have.
I've learned -
   that maturity has more to do with
   what types of experiences you've had
   and what you've learned from them
   and less to do with how many
   birthdays you've celebrated.
I've learned -
   that you should never tell a child
   their dreams are unlikely or outlandish.
   Few things are more humiliating, and
   what a tragedy it would be
   if they believed it.
I've learned -
   that your family won't always
   be there for you. It may seem funny,
   but people you aren't related to
   can take care of you and love you
   and teach you to trust people again.
   Families aren't biological.
I've learned -
   that no matter how good a friend is,
   they're going to hurt you
   every once in a while
   and you must forgive them for that.
I've learned -
  that it isn't always enough
   to be forgiven by others.
   Sometimes you have to learn
   to forgive yourself.
I've learned -
   that no matter how bad
   your heart is broken
   the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned -
   that our background and circumstances
   may have influenced who we are,
   but we are responsible for who we become.
I've learned -
   that sometimes when my friends fight,
   I'm forced to choose sides
   even when I don't want to.
I've learned -
   that just because two people argue,
   it doesn't mean they don't love each other
   And just because they don't argue,
   it doesn't mean they do.
I've learned -
   that sometimes you have to put
   the individual ahead of their actions.
I've learned -
   that we don't have to change friends
   if we understand that friends change.
I've learned -
   that you shouldn't be so
   eager to find out a secret.
   It could change your life forever.
I've learned -
   that two people can look
   at the exact same thing
   and see something totally different.
I've learned -
   that no matter how you try to protect
   your children, they will eventually get hurt
   and you will hurt in the process.
I've learned -
   that there are many ways of falling
   and staying in love.
I've learned -
   that no matter the consequences,
   those who are honest with themselves
   get farther in life.
I've learned -
   that no matter how many friends you have,
   if you are their pillar you will feel lonely
   and lost at the times you need them most.
I've learned -
   that your life can be changed
   in a matter of hours
   by people who don't even know you.
I've learned -
   that even when you think
   you have no more to give,
   when a friend cries out to you,
   you will find the strength to help.
I've learned -
   that writing, as well as talking,
   can ease emotional pains.
I've learned -
   that the paradigm we live in
   is not all that is offered to us.
I've learned -
   that credentials on the wall
   do not make you a decent human being.
I've learned -
   that the people you care most about in life
   are taken from you too soon.
I've learned -
   that although the word "love"
   can have many different meanings,
   it loses value when overly used.
I've learned -
   that it's hard to determine
   where to draw the line
   between being nice and
   not hurting people's feelings
   and standing up for what you believe.
I've learned-
   to appreciate and pass on a good message.
I've learned
    That peace of mind is very precious