Independence is beautiful. When you're finally on your own, you learn who you are. You're forced to take care of yourself, think for yourself, and to pat yourself on the back. I'm being taught lessons everyday, one at a time, and life seems to move at a faster pace ever than before.

Thankful for this blessing. Thankful for this opportunity to grow.

Learning to appreciate all the good and bad that happened in my life to get me where I am now. Everything is a lesson learned.

Once we experience and learn these things, we change. And people change constantly. 

There are two things about people that I've learned from the ones I love. These two things are two kinds of people: the one who listens, and the one who listens all the time.

The one who listens only listens to you when you're hurt: They'll finally attempt to listen once they've seen the world bring you down. Either they brought you down themselves or they realize that you need comfort. They see you struggle to finally acknowledge your feelings.

The one who listens to you when you're hurt, happy, sad, excited, frustrated, and when nothing makes sense: they're always there for you until the very end--at any place, any time, and any moment.

I've had my fair share of both. The first person is loving and caring, but only to an extent. They will keep the negative going through it's cycles in revolutions. They make you hate the world around you, and make you slow to growth and change. They are the type of people you need to let go. Rather, keep the second-the listener. The second is the opposite. They will encourage the positive, they will teach you to embrace and enjoy every second of every day, and they will create a nourishing environment for growth of your own persona. Of course, it is your responsibility to create your own happiness and perspective, but they will only provide support for you to achieve greater things.

The first person acknowledges your presence in critical times. The second person respects you in every way, every time.

So be wise; learn to forgive and let go, and to accept and embrace.

Happy hustlin'. -ej

A post about advice for when you get mad: stop and think.