I wasn\u2019t sure whether I would publish this article or not. But after letting it sit for a while, I decided I\u2019d go ahead and do so.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s short. And the subject isn\u2019t pleasant.<\/p>\n
But IMO it\u2019s important.<\/p>\n
. . .<\/b><\/p>\n
I \u201clost\u201d someone very close recently. With one exception, I\u2019m not going to discuss that loss further.<\/p>\n
The exception: I say \u201clost\u201d because for all intents and purposes, the individual had been gone in all but body for a long time. They had dementia. That damnable, cursed malady plus some other physical complications related to same and\/or old age finally claimed their body. Their essence \u2013 that which made them \u201cthem\u201d – left long ago.<\/p>\n
My point here isn\u2019t to garner sympathy. I\u2019m doing OK. I\u2019ve said my goodbyes \u2013 both in person when their body passed, as well as when their mind left long ago. They were well cared for, physically, until they passed; during most of their decline, they seemed happy. They\u2019d lived a long, good life. And even before dementia, they\u2019d had a long and happy life.<\/p>\n
My point is this. If you\u2019re reading this . . . you have people in your life that you care about. If you care about someone, tell them. Don\u2019t assume<\/i> they know; ensure<\/u> they do.<\/p>\n
Because l can say this with certainty: it hurts when you want to tell someone how much they mean to you and they\u2019re no longer around. When they\u2019re gone, you\u2019ll realize you didn\u2019t tell them you loved them often enough.<\/p>\n
However: though that\u2019s bad, it\u2019s also normal. We all feel that way after losing someone close. No matter how many times you tell someone close you love them, after they’re gone you realize it wasn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s at least one thing that\u2019s worse. <\/p>\n
What\u2019s worse is when you tell someone you care about that you love them \u2013 then look them in the eye and realize that they very likely don\u2019t recognize you, and may never again know who you are. That really<\/u> hurts like hell. <\/p>\n
If and when that happens, there are only two things you can do. And I can guarantee you\u2019ll do both.<\/p>\n
You will hurt – badly. And you\u2019ll kick yourself for not telling them more often how much you loved them . . . while they still knew who you were.<\/p>\n
. . .<\/b><\/p>\n
Make it a point to tell those you care about how much they mean to you, and do it frequently. Daily isn\u2019t too often.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"