I once thought I hated the world.
I thought I hated people.
I probably hated myself.

Then I changed that. It took a long time to adjust my attitude, but the aftereffects lasted a long time.

I went on a mission, and realized that I would have to learn to love everyone. I didn't know how to do that.

Eventually I realized something important: I don't want other people to feel bad. More than that, I want other people happy. Really, I always have. I didn't like negative reactions to me, because that meant others were unhappy because of me. This is the beginnings of love.

With help from God and others, I learned to encourage this feeling. I learned to love others.

And to be honest? It feels really, really good. I love people. I want to know more about them, I want to know them. I want to care about them.

If I had no fear, I would try to be friends with the whole world.

In the meantime, I am trying to make as many friends as I am able...even though I'm not terribly good at it.

Someday I hope I can marry one of these people that I care about...and I hope I can learn how to treat her right.

In the meantime, I will say simply that I love the whole world...and all the people in it.

But especially my friends.