Submitted by weekend  guest contributor ~liz Wessel

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away
that they were meant to be there,
to serve some sort of purpose
teach you a lesson,
or to help you figure out who you are
or who you want to become.
You never know who these people may be
(possibly your roommate, neighbor, coworker, long lost friend, lover,
or even a complete stranger),
but when you lock eyes with them,
you know at that very moment they will affect your life
in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible,
painful,
and unfair at first,
but in reflection you find
that without overcoming those obstacles
you would have never realized
your potential, strength, will power, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason.
Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck.

Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity
all occur to test the limits of your soul.

Without these small tests, whatever they may be,
life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere.
It would be safe and comfortable,
but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life,
and the success and downfalls you experience,
help to create who you are and who you become.
Even the bad experiences can be learned from.
In fact,
they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart,
forgive them,
for they have helped you learn about trust
and the importance of being cautious
when you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally,
not only because they love you,
but because in a way, they are teaching you
to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Most importantly,
"If you LOVE someone tell him or her,
for you never know what tomorrow may have in store."

 ~Author Unknown~

 (Note: Above photo is of building art by a New Orleans artist. The artist created chalk boards out of boarded up abandoned houses and invited people to repsond to the question at hand.)