It's hard for a lot of people to understand things other people do or ways other people are or decisions other people make unless they, themselves have experienced similar 'life'. Most of the time no matter how much you try to explain something about yourself to someone who hasn't had anywhere near a similar life experience or alike crosses to bear, or lessons learned, they cannot truly understand you in the way you need to be understood. That is why, in this thing= life; humans tend to be drawn to those with not only similar beliefs, ideas, values, personalities, and interest but equally those with similar experiences. Understanding. Many times a person will say they understand, insist on it, and likely believe they really GET IT but; in truth they don't and virtually can't. And if you're the one who needs the understanding, you're the one who KNOWS whether or not you're TRULY being understood. So you feel bad because you're being told "i understand, i do" but you know it's not true and you see how much honesty is in those words; and it pulls at your heart because you don't know what to do. Maybe you immediately accept that this particular person won't understand and you let them go because you know the longer it takes the more damage created. Maybe you decide to keep going in hopes it will eventually turn out okay because you are inspired by their passion in believing it is worth it; YOU'RE worth it, no matter how ignorant or innocent or totally clueless they may be they WANT to be there so you let them, carelessly and selfishly because you still KNOW the likelihood of a happy-ending is slim to none yet you cowardly remain motionless. No action...just a false reality paving your future. Or maybe you're a person who knows the difference between innocence and experience, the youthful carefree and the jaded and damaged. And you know the understanding factor and YOU need understanding and THEY believe they understand. Truth remains they don't. You try and explain; they insist it doesn't matter. Possible future pain and damage from continuing on doesn't matter because it's worth it. because they love you and you love them and that's all that matters. They want to spend THIS time with you regardless of what may happen. You hear them out. Maybe you know better because you know PEOPLE and you know LIFE and you know how love clouds the vision and tricks the heart when not handled with care. But because of need and because of 'love' and because of fear you don't just go but you don't just stay either. because you're not quite strong enough either way. Yet you warn them in everyway possible and you think that's enough...from there it's up to them to make choices in keeping your friendship, your love, your company, your faults and damage. You lie to yourself by thinking it's their choice, their power. As if they would be able to see at all. So it ends bitter and painful just as you feared and contrary to their previous plees and objections; you find it DID matter. Are their other possibilities to this scenario? Depending on the type of human being you are determines your decisions in these situations. I suppose it COULD be possible for a person to learn to understand as time progresses but I don't believe it ever gets to that point in most cases because of patience, self-need and emotion etc. i've seen a lot of friendships and relationships similar to these. Sparked by a conversation i had today with a boy who was talking about dating and age difference etc. You really don't even have to be jaded to understand THAT for the most part; you only have to compare yourself now to yourself years before and how different you are or how much you've grown or changed your views of the world... you can't really do that on the other end. if you're the youngen. you can't really grasp the difference. but I suppose the initial point was that if you have experienced so much life or certain things that have changed you extremely; it is reletively impossible to have a lasting connection or close friendship with a person whom has experienced little or none of it. you can teach them things and you can give them a better idea but you can't let them bite off more than they can chew because they won't know why you let them have such a big piece in the first place. But people learn. life is really just one huge lesson of a journey. everyone hurts someone at some point whether they mean to or not. whether they can control it or not even. And you only really hurt those you hold dear, because no one else really gives you that power. But it doesn't make you a bad person. It adds to your pallette and it might suck A LOT. If you can look at your life and the things you do and your efforts and your HEART and your intentions as well as your faults and your weaknesses and your vices and mistakes. If you can look at ALL of it with open eyes and see how you can improve in order to be a better human being and be happier with yourself and then take steps everyday in those directions no matter how many times you fall; you can bet it will all be worth it and you will grow happier, more peaceful, more confident, and more accepting of other people's ways, views, and actions towards you and towards the world (other people's harsh beliefs and judgements towards you won't matter so much). If anyone who reads this finds themself in a situation with another person that I previously described I would reccomend the first decision as the best. It is the most valiant path; it may leave you lonely for awhile and it may hurt you both for a brief while...but being strong enough to walk away before it's too late will save that person from learning the hard way and they may even find that experiencing life with someone just as inexperienced is more exciting anyway. and if they say it doesn't matter in the end just remember that living only in the moment all your life will cause a lot of built up future consequences that you will consistently try to keep avoiding until it's too late and you crash. True virtue can better be found when you responsibly consider the consequences of every moment. You can have JUST as much fun but you will appreciate it more...and experience it longer.