know yourself ❛ don't aim to be understood by others before you understand yourself. people may never understand your intentions. you know them. they may never understand why you do what you do or say what you say. you know the reasons. they may never understand why you treat them the way that you do, or why you treat others the way that you do. you know why. they may never understand the words that you say or the language your eyes speak. you understand these languages because you create them. they may never understand the strength it takes to be the way that you are. you know your weaknesses and your struggles, and you are the one who works to overcome them, so your strength means more to you than it could ever mean to anyone else. it really isn't about what they understand by just looking at you. it's about what they want to understand, and if they really want to, they won't assume. they will ask.❜

i deserve it ❛ i'd rather be disappointed by the truth than satisfied with a lie. respect me, not because i respect you, but because i deserve your respect. how pleased would you be if you found out i respected you only because i wanted you to respect me back or because i wanted something in return? i respect you because you deserve it. don't listen to me just because i listen to you. i listen to you because you deserve to be heard. don't be nice to me just because i'm nice to you. i'm nice to you because you deserve to be treated right. don't show me that you care just because you know i care. i care for you because your heart needs care. if your thoughts and feelings are not genuine, point them in a direction other than mine. if i only give you what you deserve, at least keep me away from what i don't deserve.❜

time and you ❛ don't worry about what people think of you or about the way they try to make you feel. if people want to see you as a good person, they will. if they want to see you as a bad person, absolutely nothing you do will stop them. ironically, the more you try to show them your good intentions, the more reason you give them to knock you down, because they know they've got a part of you that will care about what they do. keep your head up high and be confident in what you do. be confident in your intentions and keep your eyes ahead instead of wasting your time on those who want to drag you back by not caring or by caring the wrong way. because you can't change people's views, you have to believe that true change for yourself comes from within you, no from anyone else. you must believe, and you must have faith that time itself is much more able to prove your point than you are.❜

priorities ❛ hold on to those whom you love very tightly. love them back, respect them, cherish every moment you spend with them, and make them smile. do not let a stressful day get in the way of spending the right time the right way on the right people. it's a balance that you can and must strike to make every day worth living. don't let the day come when you will regret not doing this. life passes by as fast as the sun sets and as fast as the night turns into day. don't let life pass you by. fill it with the love that you have in your heart and it will bounce right back.❜