Who knows?

I am shocked speechless by life at times. Sometimes it's a good shock, and other times a not so great slap in the face. I am amazed at all of the different perspectives that various people can have on the EXACT same situation or topic. The thing is, who knows? Who on THIS earth REALLY knows what to do, all the time?

I don't.
While everyone is out there making their judgements about the world and all of the people living in it, it's really easy to get caught up in that. To get caught up in the stories of what's going on, on what he said or she said...but do we really KNOW? Do we know the thoughts of that person? Or what their intentions were? An old friend in anger once said to me "These are my thoughts, which I am entitled to, not yours." I have never forgotten it. He taught me the power of my mind.

No one can take away our thoughts. My thoughts. No matter what judgement they pass on me, no one knows exactly how I feel or what my intentions are. I believe that, at times, we all forget that. We forget that each person has a story in their mind, and though it can be just a single situation, there can be so many different thoughts and angles on that one situation.

Someone I thought would end up as a friend, ended up the complete opposite. I don't know why this can happen, but it still does. Like I said, life is full of surprises. The good thing is: I LEARNED from it. To me, that is very important. Even better- I didn't just learn things about a particular situation - I learned more about LIFE and me. And isn't that what life is all about?

I learned-
1. Don't trust just anyone with your thoughts, unless they have earned that trust. Thoughts are very powerful things that no one but yourself can take away or change.
2. People can be immature, forgive them for they know not what they do.
3. Time is of the essence; don't waste it on people who don't want it.
4. Just because a boy gives you flowers does not mean you have to trust him or keep giving him chances.
5. Don't always let people into your head, they don't know every thing. Listen to your instincts.
6. If something makes you feel like dirt, why in the world would you want to keep putting effort and time towards feeling that way?
7. I am a princess, yes I DO want to be treated that way and that's not a bad thing. If someone has a problem with me wanting to feel that way, well... that is too bad.
8. Give people the benefit of the doubt. They don't know everything about me, so I'm sure I don't know every thing about them either.
9. Pray for those who are hard to pray for. It may not help them, but it will soften my own heart at least.
9. Smile.
10. There is no black and white in life. It's impossible to always know exactly what to do in any situation. That is the time to just do your best with what you've got and hope it turns out ok.
11. Sometimes, it doesn't turn out. That's alright, just make sure to learn learn learn....from anything and every thing in life, there is a lesson.