aug14

August 14th 2015

When you are born

you aren't given a choice

who your family is

where they come from

or who they will become.

You are taught to love and respect

each member for who they are

and that they are a part 

of you and your family.

That included Aunts and Uncles who were really

cousins or family friends.
To hold tight to that love
to get you through anything.

If this lesson 
was taught well it is something you cherished

because family was not forever

as divorce and death are a part of family too.

As you aged

and started your own branch of the family tree

many follow the same path

they were taught as a child.

To spread love

to whomever came to their door

and needed it the most.

We taught our children this message

by our own actions

and reap from them what we have sown.

  Some friendship choices are made

at childhood, in your teens and at college...

with good faith that they will be there for life.

That they will love you for who you are

and who you are yet to become.

You picture your children's children

being friends as well

but learn that some, were in fact,

a place to visit

forever in our hearts and memories

but no longer in our life

as deeply as we had hoped

for whatever reasons either side chose.

 We take the time to teach our children

not to call others their BEST friend in the whole world

because in fact

they have not been everywhere

and that term

often used too loosely

can cause hurt feelings in others

who felt they should have that place.

To keep the heart open to as many as it can hold.

All the while remembering

that in this imperfect world

some friendships

are only stepping stones

for some to an ulterior motive.

Sadly to be lost 

to the path they want their life to follow

good or bad.

Most have lived their adult years

with many acquaintances.

People you trust and would do anything for,

even tell your most unholy secrets to

but for some reason

or unplanned, unintentional turn of events

cause you to question

the loyalty of their love for you.

More gone than here

not out of your life

but through whatever transgression

no longer a safe place to go

when you need a shoulder.

An unsure place to lay your secrets

and your dreams.

A memory like that you have of vacations past

a place nice to visit

but not to stay.

Sometimes

that stage of your life can be very lonely.

Not alone... but never comfortable.

Making you question 

your past choices

your past trust

the group of people you currently surround 
yourself and your family with

all the love you give.

Those times are the hardest of all.

Each stage of your life 

can hold more love and happiness

than you ever expected.

This is true

in your family, friends and acquaintances.

It can also harbour

hurt, regret and animosity

for those who have disappointed you,

ignored or left you, 

left you without the support you had counted on,

or have moved on for their own reasons.

Wishing for that clean start

a break from those you allow to hurt you,

betrayed you,

resorted to underhanded or sneaky gossip.

The feeling that something has been taken away

but nothing tangible is gone.

Still,

knowing that given the opportunity

you would give them just one more chance

to be who you thought they would be...

even if it meant risking your heart, pride and love

one more time.

The pain of regret,

of not being able to redo a choice you made

is part of being human.

The belief that everything happens

for a reason

and that it will be a part of who you are becoming

gives hope that the trials you are facing

will be short lived 

and that they will bring wonderful things

in the future.

The problem sometimes is not

what you or someone else is doing

or not doing.

The problem is sometimes

not saying goodbye

to those in your life who 

are not a positive influence

in your life anymore.

Just allowing 

yourself to say that the last chance

has been given

and walking away. 

Good night from John Street.