REMEMBERING A YOUNG WOMAN'S THOUGHTS . . .

This quote is from Veronica A. Shoffstall, written when she was just 19 years old.  From Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul

After a while you learn
 

the subtle difference between
 

holding a hand and chaining a soul
 

and you learn
 

that love doesn't mean leaning
 

and company doesn't always 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 ahead
 

with the grace of woman, 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
 

and futures have a way of falling down
 

in 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
 

you really are strong
 

you really do have worth
 

and you learn
 

and you learn
 

with every goodbye, you learn...
 

© 1971 Veronica A. Shoffstall