I'VE LEARNED . . .

 

The following is a repost which, on the internet, is usually attributed to Omer Washington.  I have since found out that the author is Kathy Kane Hansen, who wrote it in 1971. 

Here is the work as written by her.  There are numerous variations on the net, this is the original.  (I prefer the variation, which follows this version).

It makes a lot of sense so it is worth reading in its entirety, despite the length.

I’ve Learned 

- Kathy Kane Hansen

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.

-----oOo-----

This is the version you will usually find credited to Omer Washington:

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, It’s what they do about it.
I’ve learned that no matter how thin you slice it, there are always two sides.
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 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 there are people who love you dearly, but just don’t know how to show it.
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 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 just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean that 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 two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I’ve learned that no matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves get farther in life.
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 people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon.
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 love and be loved.
I’ve learned…