Johnny was a member of a gang. He took part in fights, smuggled drugs and engaged in many other illegal activities. Once, he ran into an attractive woman in a dark alley, and, allowing his lust to get the better of him, he raped her.

Many years later Johnny met the woman of his dreams. He had had many women before, but this time it was different. He was in love, and he was convinced she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

But somehow, he felt he didn’t fully understand her. There was always a certain somberness and sadness in her, but he never knew why - she would always say things were alright.

Then one day, she finally told him why. Many years ago, while on her way home, she had walked through an alley, a man abused her sexually there. For the first time, she had opened up herself to him, and she told him exactly what happened that night.

Johnny was upset. But more importantly, he was stunned into silence. The girl got worried - she thought he wouldn’t accept her. But Johnny had other things on his mind. He could not believe what he had done so long ago would come back to haunt him. He had physically hurt the woman which he would later fall in love with.

This may a story too coincidental to be true. But in life, when we hurt others, we might unwittingly be hurting our loved ones as well. One day, the pain might come back to us.

• When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don’t see the one which has been opened for us.
• Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.
• Always put yourself in others’ shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.
• The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
• Happiness lives for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.
• The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can’t go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
• When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
• What’s meant to be will always find a way and if ever you’ve found that way, do something to make it happen, never let go ’cause not all that’s meant to be will always turn into reality.
• If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.
• Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.
• Life holds no promises to what will come our way. It makes no guarantee as to what we will have. It just gives us time to make choices and take chances.
• Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.
• Somewhere there is someone that dreams of your smile, and finds in your presence that life is worthwhile, so when you are lonely remember it’s true, someone somewhere is thinking of you.
• Life is short, don’t waste time worrying about what people think of you. Hold on to the ones that care, in the end they will be the only ones there.
• We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
• Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
• Remember: Whatever happens, happens for a reason.