These Damnable Lessons

What a naive mistake it was,
conjured from my innocent youth,
to desire an arduous cause
delivering some worldly truth.

Because when the day came knocking
and all was suddenly upturned,
I would have done most anything
to avoid what I had to learn.

See, they didn't come in boxes
wrapped up nicely as one would wish,
but were often paradoxes,
and what I can tell you is this:

I've learned more than I hoped to know.
Felt more than I wanted to feel.
Grown more than I wanted to grow. 
Healed more than I thought one could heal. 

And having gained so much knowledge,
knowing I did all I could do,
I finally must acknowledge,
that no other way could be true.