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 when 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 have never realized your potential, strength, will

power or heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of

good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer

stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small

tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere.

Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you

experience can create who 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 because they are teaching you to love and to open your heart

and eyes to little things. Make every day count.

Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can,

for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people 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. Create your own life and then go

out and live it.

"If you take your eyes off your goals, all you see are obstacles."