Inside

Inside

Author: Melissa Collette

Bottled up inside
Are the words I never said,
The feelings that I hide,
The lines you never read.

You can see it in my eyes,
Read it on my face:
Trapped inside are lies
Of the past I can’t replace.

With memories that linger –
Won’t seem to go away.
Why can’t I be happier?
Today’s brand new day.

Yesterdays are over,
Even though the hurting’s not.
I must cherish what I’ve got.

Don’t take my love for granted,
For soon it will be gone –
All you ever wanted
Of the love you thought you’d won.

The hurt I’m feeling now
Won’t disappear overnight,
But someway, somehow,
Everything will turn out all right.

No more wishing for the past.
It wasn’t meant to be.
It didn’t seem to last,

So I have to set him free.

Children learn what they live

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright � 1972 by Dorothy Law Nolte