Lessons Learned Through Observation

 Lessons I've learned
From observing others...
When you get what you ask for,
Make absolutely certain
That it's what you really wanted...
Words have meaning and impact...
Say what you mean,
Do what you say...
Own the consequences...
You can't hold onto something
That you constantly push away...
Like that kid trying to
Pick up a ball,
But kicking it away
Every time he gets close...
A mini Sisyphus
I've learned through observation 
That words spoken,
Even with sincerity-in-the-moment,
Are just words
Without actions...
I've also learned
That my positive actions 
Aren't always noticed
By the people in
Closest proximity to me...
The people who have
Verbally "committed" to me
In front of witnesses...
Promises like that
have always been broken,
in my personal experience...
I've learned that
Romantic "love"
is simply a neurochemical reaction...
And I've learned that its expression
is often pathological...
I'm not necessarily jaded,
simply awake...
It's taken 51 years
to wake up...
Some people never wake up...
Will never wake up
without outside intervention...
I've learned 
that you can love someone
and hate someone
simultaneously...
And I've learned 
that it's necessary to let go...
Not just selectively,
But totally...
I've learned that
The most hurtful thing
I can do to someone
Is to remove myself from them...
I've also learned
That sometimes hurtful things
Are the right thing to do
To maintain necessary distance...
Sometimes the right thing
Will cause pain
To both parties...
And I've learned that,
Sometimes,
That's okay...