I would like to make a disclaimer before posting this.
Jorge Luis Borges was a great of Spanish literature and I have butchered his work in this crummy translation...
Sometimes you simply can't convey that same depth and feeling when you attempt to translate something.
I will post the original in Spanish at the bottom for those of you who speak the beautiful language.
I found this somewhat sappy, yet simplistically honest and clear.
It’s good to be learning.
"In time, you learn the subtle difference between holding someone’s hand and chaining their soul; and you learn that to lie together doesn’t mean you love and a companion doesn’t mean security… you begin to learn...
...that kisses are not contracts and gifts are not promises, and you begin to accept your defeats with your head held high and eyes wide open, you learn to build your paths in today, because the land of tomorrow is too uncertain for plans... and the future has a way of falling into itself.
And after a time you learn that if it’s too much, even the sun’s heat will burn.
So you plant your own garden and decorate your soul, rather than waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
You learn that you can endure, that you truly are strong, and what you’re truly worth, you learn and learn... and with every day, continue to learn.
In time you learn that being with someone simply because it offers you a good future only means that sooner or later you’ll long to return to your past.
In time time you understand that only he who is able to love you with your defects, without trying to change you, will be able to offer you the happiness you seek.
In time you realize that if you are near that person only to accompany your loneliness, irremediably you will end up wishing not to see them again.
In time you understand that true friends are few, and that if you don't fight for them, sooner or later you'll find yourself surrounded only by friendships that are false.
In time you learn that words spoken in a moment of anger can continue wounding the one you’ve hurt, for the rest of his life.
In time you learn that anyone is capable of accepting an apology, but to forgive is for those with a great soul.
In time you understand that if you’ve hurt a friend deeply, your friendship will never be the same again.
In time you realize that although you may be happy with the friends you have, you will someday cry for the ones you let go.
In time you realize that every experience lived with each person is unrepeatable."
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"Después de un tiempo, uno aprende la sutil diferencia entre sostener una mano y encadenar un alma; y uno aprende que el amor no significa acostarse y que una compañía no significa seguridad, y uno empieza a aprender...
Que los besos no son contratos y los regalos no son promesas, y uno empieza a aceptar sus derrotas con la cabeza alta y los ojos abiertos, y uno aprende a construir todos sus caminos en el hoy, porque el terreno de mañana es demasiado inseguro para planes... y los futuros tienen una forma de caerse en la mitad.
Y después de un tiempo uno aprende que si es demasiado, hasta el calor del sol quema. Así que uno planta su propio jardín y decora su propia alma, en lugar de esperar a que alguien le traiga flores.
Y uno aprende que realmente puede aguantar, que uno realmente es fuerte, que uno realmente vale, y uno aprende y aprende... y con cada día uno aprende.
Con el tiempo aprendes que estar con alguien porque te ofrece un buen futuro significa que tarde o temprano querrás volver a tu pasado.
Con el tiempo comprendes que sólo quien es capaz de amarte con tus defectos, sin pretender cambiarte, puede brindarte toda la felicidad que deseas.
Con el tiempo te das cuenta de que si estás al lado de esa persona sólo por acompañar tu soledad, irremediablemente acabarás deseando no volver a verla.
Con el tiempo entiendes que los verdaderos amigos son contados, y que el que no lucha por ellos tarde o temprano se verá rodeado sólo de amistades falsas.
Con el tiempo aprendes que las palabras dichas en un momento de ira pueden seguir lastimando a quien heriste, durante toda la vida.
Con el tiempo aprendes que disculpar cualquiera lo hace, pero perdonar es sólo de almas grandes. Con el tiempo comprendes que si has herido a un amigo duramente, muy probablemente la amistad jamás volverá a ser igual.
Con el tiempo te das cuenta de que aunque seas feliz con tus amigos, algún día llorarás por aquellos que dejaste ir.
Con el tiempo te das cuenta de que cada experiencia vivida con cada persona es irrepetible."
