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Dawn read this to me. I asked her for a copy.

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 mean security

and you begin to learn

that kisses aren’t compromises

and presents aren’t promises

and you begin to accept your defeats

with your head up and your eyes ahead

with the grace of a woman or man

not the grief of a child

And you learn to build all your load on today

because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans

and futures have a way of falling down in midflight

after a while, you learn that you really can endure

that you really are strong

and you learn

and you learn

with every failure you learn.

—Anonymous