Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there…to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be but you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would never realize your potential, strength, will power or heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of luck. Illness, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test limits of your soul.

Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create whom you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to little things. Make every day count. Appreciate everything that you possibly can, for you may never experience it again.

Talk to people whom you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high. Hold you head up because you have every right to.

Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you. Create you own life and then go out and live it.

Author Unknown

One Wish

A man was walking along the beach in California and found a bottle. He looked around and didn't see anyone so he opened the bottle. A genie appeared and thanked the man for letting him out. The genie said, " I am so grateful to get out of that bottle that I will grant you any wish, but I can only grant one."

The man thought for a while and finally said, "I have always wanted to go to Hawaii. I've never been able to go because I cannot fly, Airplanes are much too frightening for me. On a boat, I see all that water and I become very sea sick. So I wish for a road to be built from here to Hawaii.

The genie thought for a few minutes and finally said, "No, I don't think I can do that. Just think of all the work involved. Consider all the piling needed to hold up a highway and how deep they would have to go to reach the bottom of the ocean. Imagine all the pavement needed. No, that is just too much to ask."

The man thought for a few minutes and then told the genie, "There is one other thing I have always wanted. I would like to be able to understand women. What makes them laugh and cry, why are they temperamental, why are they so difficult to get along with, when they want attention, when they don't. Basically, what makes them tick."

The genie considered for a few minutes and said, "So, did you want two lanes or four?"

Anonymous

As I Walk Through Life

I've learned-
that you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I've learned-
that it's taking me a long time to
become the person I want to be.

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 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 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 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 our background and circumstances may have
influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

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 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 your life can be changed in a matter of minutes,
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 credentials on the wall do not
make you a decent human being.

I've learned-
that the people you care about most
in life are taken from you too soon.