Before It’s Too Late

The end of life of a very dear friend of mine for 54 years is on the horizon. Needless to say, it breaks my heart.  I have been spending as much time with her as I can.  Last week I sat down and wrote her a long, detailed, and descriptive letter. It was not to say goodbye; it was to say how much she means to me today and every day over the past 54 years.  In fact, it was everything I would say about her at a Memorial. But I wanted her to hear and have it now.

Writing that letter reminded me of a blog I wrote many years ago, The Daily Eulogy. Here it is.

Telling your people that you love them is easy. It’s tossed out like a doggie biscuit.  But it is not enough. Our children (and our family and dearest friends) deserve to hear what we think, feel, and love about them.  The words nourish their hearts. They fuel their lives, keep them warm, add to their resilience,  and hold them upright.

With children these words are tremendously powerful. Their growing years are seasoned with goods and not-so-goods heard from us parents.  Too often they feel that we are constantly nagging them.  Truth is, often they are right. So, let me remind you not only to catch your child doing the right thing, when s/he not expecting it. But more, go beyond and share with your child t the specific things, the tiny and the big, that you love, admire, appreciate.  And do it often. Don’t wait until you wish you had.