After a while,
you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBS7LP1Dr1_twbfm0JlIsNH484P7cVEBH18hLRCT_ZeI5jfifJH9rs489mvEXzvUwGu2M_eAW6AmA-lCoE0x_1qM5IJzqGRg-TJohlqXto_YjPXKf742iZI32iiB9d7v396wX_14RHMg/s400/Couple_holding_hands_1273989632.jpg)
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,
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAitnUNawSh2HRO_OMo87UjaOOU4B6_1RkzwURXKGWb86JEzSjhIrfEmfMSkQnBYanwfrWGBasGBC46gOOfStr9je5Y_XDFoZhVufj_5nTKe5k_XgGn-owXMpkkvMoP-FIl8hkr193jGU/s400/kiss.jpg)
and presents aren't promises.
And you begin to accept your defeats
with the grace of a woman,
not the grief of a child.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR8Z135k2k2J7BbYHGINzi0qRGRIFb2CUgEVk9hWmtWIGSAWiQWGEuF96VBw5VPXC5oQwYD-KQ7H52gSo7sXfD0jhDGdVDVEtrgTd-Fep8GBTRT1zvxSBkaAnc19J52ZauMDHduF5a5s/s400/imagesCA6V5I67.jpg)
And you learn to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans,
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyA-Z-kTxfe9yGyfB7w_OYPI3SRqDiGF6ec98yMmN0I9ahYKIygNwZ74HEyLP2zee8f8nL6HPUw5TErhi_5ASI7w-bgwY36OEJ8W9Mll-44zrLop0MRAwmCBSTTAcQ4XHNxQAa682NtkE/s400/waterfall_ireland_pdphoto.jpg)
And after a while you learn
that even sunshine burns if you get too much
.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhTdb0v2h99wvubMaMliIv8GlT1EEmGpecISmNkaVTdCinSpX3FdOOaN_71ABDzxmUu1Dph5PBEsXjktN6WS6aSscKiQTo4OQPsdc28otG2BUBFnFCijk61bokk9qsUJC0zPePB-KTQA/s400/FuturePower.jpg)
So you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul,
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3FO9qZJdL2YNemLogJenoVJTKG9gVHhyphenhyphenfYTd3cLL7YMDBdQaOnZOSHKgG9oS7xPokKaNagNClknj0hx8-9mdk-NGMh3XYNwzOnhKTidt9U_GfjFhjM2cyfsQKpCenxPSbhRXoSHoZvQ/s400/ranunculus.jpg)
And you learn that you really can endure...
that you really are strong
and you really do have worth.
You learn
and learn...
With every goodbye,
you learn.
-unknown