From me to YOU...
While I was born into a very tiny family that kept to itself for the most part - meaning my newlywed parents left their small families behind in the mountains and snow and moved as far south as they could for the flatland and the sun - and meaning holidays or even every day days (if there is such a day) were never filled with the voices, laughter, antics, or whatever, of aunts, uncles, or cousins - I was indeed born into a loving family. However, it was pretty much always just us five. I take that back... it was ALWAYS just us five. Every Thanksgiving.. every Christmas... every every.
And I am so grateful for us five. My sis, my brother, my mother, my father, and I.
And I knew that I was always loved... in the way that my parents could and DID love. And yes they loved us and did the best that they could. And I was and am blessed to this day because of their love - albeit sometimes very painfully conditional - but always an unconditional love. If that makes sense.
And I bet you know what I mean.
But these three words, "I love you", were simply not said out loud in my childhood family. We just didn't do that. No. We didn't do that. Ever. Never.
Fast forward to life as I know it and live it now, and I simply cannot say these words ENOUGH to those that I love. Why would we ever NOT say these words to those that we feel love for in our hearts?
What are we waiting for?
Again. Life is NOT a dress rehearsal. This is it.
So if you love someone, or feel love for someone, tell them out loud.
Just simply say it.
I love you.