STORM2K

Why do we wait until it's too late to tell someone what they mean to us, how they've inspired us, etc? This thought came to me this morning as I come to the realization that my friend with Stage 4 cancer is clinging to the cliffs, so to speak, in and out of consciousness.
Here's my thought for the day: DON'T WAIT.
If someone you are close to was gone tomorrow, would you have said all you needed to say? Would they have known how important they were to you, the joy they brought into your life? Someone has a signature line on this board "Live every day like it is your last". Think about it, reverse it. "Live every day like it was THEIR last". This may be too emotional or mushy for this board, but it hit me like a ton of bricks this morning. Why do we use Valentine's Day as "that" day? Maybe we don't all do, but I would wager that alot of us do.
Here's my challenge for the day:
Start saying it NOW. Start telling those important to you, those you love, those you've developed friendships with WHY they are important. Relive happy memories and sad ones too. Dig deep in your heart. Make sure they KNOW how you feel. Say it in person if possible, if not write it down, email it, snail mail it, I don't care. Just DO IT. Take 30 minutes a day and pick one person each day if that's all you have time for. But stop waiting. No one is immortal-time is precious and you DON'T KNOW when your or their number may be up. Personally, had I known my father was dying, way back when I was 6, I think I would have articulated something. Had I known that my second husband would die alone, despite the animosity towards him, I WOULD have said something.
You could be gone tomorrow or someone you know could. Would you KNOW that you had conveyed all you felt?
Once again, my apologies to those who feel this is too personal, but I needed to share my thoughts.

Suzi

Never has there been truer words spoken suziq! Having just lost my mother in law, the last visit before her passing, was great, I told her things that she NEEDED to know, how greatful I was for ALL of her help, her unconditional love for Michelle and I.

Dennis

WONDERFUL POST SUZI!!!!

It is a little different, but when I almost lost my wife to a heart problem almost 8 years ago, we, as a family, learned a very valuable lesson from that, and it is as you say.

Actually, it is two lessons in one. LIVE EACH DAY AS IT COULD BE YOUR/THEIR LAST. LET THE ONES IMPORTANT TO YOU KNOW HOW YOU FEEL AND WHY. LITERALLY LIVE FOR THE MOMENT BECAUSE IT COULD BE OVER IN A SPLIT SECOND.(now that doesn't mean go wild or do things you normally wouldn't do, but SAVOR each moment and USE IT TO ITS' FULLEST!!!) ALWAYS TELL YOUR LOVED ONES "I LOVE YOU" WHENEVER YOU ARE PARTING!! That way if something did happen, at least those would be the last words they would hear from you. I'm sorry, I am not meaning to sound morbid here. these are just some lessons that life has taught me.

Thanks for the responses guys. Thought some would think I had "gone off my rocker", my post being so out of character for me (Marva).

Every time I went to visit my mother before she passed away , I made sure to let her know that I loved her. I would tell her that I love you first thing as I came into the room and it would be the last thing I said as I would leave. I wasn't able to be with her every day due to car problems (no car during the day)so I went every chance I got.

We wait, I guess, because it seems there is plenty of time or a better place or a perfect situation when it will be MORE right!

Truth is, we need to take the time to do it, to show it, when we are inspired to do so, not "later" sometime.

It takes a conscious effort to do that, though. We think it a lot, but do it only a little.

At a planning commission meeting last week, there were all sorts of egos bouncing off each other as different speakers spoke their minds. Bristles and huffs and puffs were all over the place.

When my turn came to speak as a commissioner, the first thing I did was brush aside everyone's differences and said, "You know folks, I am really proud of the passion and inspired conversation you brought here tonight. You clearly all have much to say...and assign importance to what you are saying. Regardless of how this vote goes, I want to tell you how much I appreciate hearing that passion in your pleas."

For the first time in the discussion, the room grew quiet, all those egos were cast aside, and I saw heads bobbing with approval like bobbleheads...as if to say,"Thanks for recognizing that!"

We can use praise and appreciation and genuine words of conviction to affect many things. Whether at work, in our family relationships, or simply in our daily passings, we can make a lot of things better by simply acknowledging our appreciation, love, and care.

Some people left that night disappointed in the outcome, but I suspect they at least felt that their words were really heard along the way.

Amen, SuziQ. And, have I told you lately just what an asset you are to these boards?

You are, you know.

We wait, Suzi, because we are not privy to God's plans for people; He brings them "home" without warning, and we feel that we left things undone, unsaid, that should have been...

But, Suzi, if we remember that in His Presence our loved ones are in the Presence of Truth Itself...for in Him all things are known, and from Him no secrets are hidden...then, rest assured, they KNOW. They KNOW, Suzi.