After a while

Veronica A. Shoffstall

After a while you learn the slight difference

between holding a hand and putting hearts together.

And you learn that love doesnt mean depending，

and company doesnt always mean safety.

And you begin to learn

that kisses arent contracts，

and presents arent promises.

And you begin to accept your failures

with your head up and your eyes open

With the grace of a woman，

not the sadness of a child.

And you learn to build all your roads on today，

Because tomorrows ground is too uncertain for plans，

and futures have a way of falling down in mid flight.

After a while you learn

that even sunshine burns if you get too much，

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul，

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn

that you really can stand，

that you really are strong，

and you really do have worth.

And you learn and you learn

with every good bye you learn.

不久以后，你明白

牽手并不等同于灵魂的结合，

爱并不意味着依靠，

而陪伴也不一定意味着安稳。

你开始明白

亲吻并非契约，

礼物也并不意味着承诺。

你开始昂起头、睁开眼，

以女人的风度，而非孩子般的悲伤，

接受自己的挫败。

你学会为今天的自己铺好所有的路，

因为明天的一切太未知而难以规划，

未来总是以某种方式突然出现在眼前。

不久以后，你明白

即便是阳光，如果太多，也会将人灼伤，

所以你开始耕种自己的花园，装扮自己的灵魂，

不再等待他人给予的花朵。

你终于明白

自己真的很有耐力，

真的很强大，

真的有自己的价值，

每一次道别都让你学会很多……

（Dear， have you learned anything from your life？）

雅婷翻译整理