The following is written by Ronald K. Pendleton, Ph.D., Professor of Education California State University, San Bernardino. 

What I have learned, but not all that I have learned 

I've learned that you can get by on charm for about 15 
minutes. After that, you'd better know something. 

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the 
best others can do, but to the best you can do. 

I've learned that it's not what happens to people that's 
important. It's what they do about it. 

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that 
will give you a heartache for life. 

I've learned that no matter how thin you slice it, there 
are always two sides. 

I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become 
the person I want to be. 

I've learned that it's a lot easier to react than it 
is to think. 

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones 
with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. 

I've learned that you can keep going long after you think 
you can't. 

I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no 
matter how we feel. 

I've learned that either you control your attitude or it 
controls you. 

I've learned that sometimes I just need to be held. 

I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a 
relationship is at first, the passion eases and there 
had better be something else to take its place. 

I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has 
to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the 
consequences. 

I've learned that learning to forgive takes practice. 

I've learned that there are people who love you dearly, 
but just don't know how to show it. 

I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score. 

I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or 
nothing and have the best time. 

I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick 
you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up. 

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel. 

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. 

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the 
way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. 

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back. 

I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. 

I've learned that you should never tell a child her dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if she believed it. 

I've learned that your family won't always be there for you. 
It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren't biological. 

I've learned that no matter how good a friend someone is, 
they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. 

I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by 
others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself. 

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief. 

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become. 

I've learned that sometimes when my friends fight, I'm forced to choose sides even when I don't want to. 

I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do. 

I've learned that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of their actions. 

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only 
seconds to destroy it. 

I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. 

I've learned that if you don't want to forget something, 
stick it in your underwear drawer. 

I've learned that you shouldn't be so eager to find out 
a secret. It could change your life forever. 

I've learned that the clothes I like best are the ones 
with the most holes in them. 

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, 
but who you have in your life that counts. 

I've learned that two people can look at the exact 
same thing and see something totally different. 

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All 
you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is 
up to them. 

I've learned that no matter how you try to protect your 
children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt 
in the process. 

I've learned that there are many ways of falling and staying 
in love. 

I've learned that no matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves, get farther in life. 

I've learned that many things can be powered by the mind, 
the trick is self-control. 

I've learned that no matter how many friends you have, if 
you are their pillar, you will feel lonely and lost at the times you need them most. 

I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of 
hours by people who don't even know you. 

I've learned that even when you think you have no more to 
give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the 
strength to help. 

I've learned that writing, as well as talking, can ease 
emotional pains. 

I've learned that the paradigm we live in is not all that 
is offered to us. 

I've learned that credentials on the wall do not make you 
a decent human being. 

I've learned that the people you care most about in life 
are taken from you too soon. 

I've learned that although the word "love" can have many 
different meanings, it loses value when overly used. 

I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw 
the line between being nice and not hurting people's 
feelings and standing up for what you believe. 

Source: Ronald K. Pendleton, Ph.D., Professor of Education California State University, San Bernardino 
 

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