Life is meaningless without love, and love is empty without the ones who make it possible - so tell the ones you love that you love them. Chances are the people that immediately pop into your mind are well aware of your love for them, but what's the harm in reassuring that belief? Personally, I have made it a part of my life to tell anyone I love that I love them before saying goodbye, whether it's for an hour, a day, a month - I make sure to say it every time.
It all stems from when I was younger. My mom and sisters were going on a trip to Europe and it just so happened to be during the 2012 “end of the world” event. Now for a young boy easily persuaded by the supernatural, and/or fear of an impending apocalypse, part of me was really worried I would never see them again - that they wouldn’t know how much I loved them. That event shook me so much that I was determined to make sure anyone I loved knew it.
While they were away and it was just my Dad, brother and I, I would open up my door right before going to bed and I would tell the house that I loved them, every single night the girls were away. The habit didn't die when they got home, if anything, it got stronger. So from 2012 until the day I moved out of my parents house, I did that every night. It became so ingrained into my daily routine that I did it without even thinking. Going even further, I wouldn't hold back in social settings where a teenage boy would otherwise be appalled to be caught telling his mom or dad he loved them, but I did so loudly and without even a thought of shame.
Expressing emotions is at the foundation of what makes us human. Sharing experiences and creating communities helps build those foundations and allows us to grow into the best versions of ourselves. Love is at the heart of all of that. The glue that keeps families and communities together, so why would we be anything but open about expressing that love? Simply put, we shouldn’t.
In fact, I believe if we as individuals were more open with expressing our feelings of love for one another it would make the world a heck of a lot better - and in doing so it would also set us free. Expressing your emotions is always an act of release, getting things off your chest whether they be good or bad. Throughout human history we have routinely been reminded that love is the strongest emotion out there, and in being so creates the biggest release when that emotion is expressed. In many ways the act of telling your people you love them is selfish - so be selfish.
Another reason to be routinely vocal about your love, is you never know when the last goodbye will come. Why run the risk of not saying it when you can guarantee the last thing you tell your people is that you love them? It is such a simple thing to do, regardless of how the conversation ends, it is always okay to end it with “love you”.
Like the old advert says, don’t go to bed angry, well another one equally as important is don’t say goodbye without saying love you. It will heal wounds, mend relationships, and create stronger bonds. Be vocal. Tell your people you love them. And never stop working towards a better you, because if enough of us do that… there's no telling what wonderful world lies beyond tomorrow.
Love you all, WR.