Look at me now.

There are many things in life I don't understand.  There are also some things in life I do understand, and those things, I embrace.  Of course I've been hurt before, but I dealt with it.  It's one of the most difficult things I've ever had to go through, but hey...I'm still alive and smiling everyday.  The most difficult thing by far is to see someone you love, a family member, be gone in an instant.  I'm not a life expert by any means when I say these things.  However, these things are essential to growing up.  Just because your situation is similar to someone else does not mean they are the same.  Every person is different and every person reacts differently.  Reactions and people make up situations and these factors most people forget to take into account.  The biggest mistake in life is to run it on circumstance alone.  That's like deciding to have a bad day, because it's raining outside.  Obviously some circumstances are so great that it's impossible to surpass the side effects.  It just hurts, but it's out of your control! Growing up means making a decision YOU truly wanted and sticking to it.  Growing up means being able to deal with the consequences of your decisions, and not backing out when times are difficult.  Growing up is being able to admit that you were wrong or a complete jerk.  I think most importantly though; growing up is accepting the fact that you cannot please everybody, and that does not make you a bad person.  It is ok to be upset about something.  Do it!  Cry a river, but when you are done throwing your pity party; build a boat, clear your mind, open your eyes, and see the world.  Every upset builds us a new path to something bigger than we knew before, and every obstacle makes us realize who we are.  You just have to decide what you want and let it happen.