He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who has never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express it; who has always looked for the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction.
After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul, and you learn that love doesn't mean security, and you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises, and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open, with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child, and you learn to build your own roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if y