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, comfortable but dull and
utterly painless.

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 your 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.  Creat your own life and then go out and live it.