say it before it's too late

When I got my driver’s license, my parents had one rule until I got to college.

I had to text them when I left somewhere and text them when I arrived at my destination.

It was a three-strike system. I had two strikes against me the August before I moved into school. One more strike and there would’ve been consequences.

It wasn’t that my parents didn’t trust me; they did. My parents have always trusted me. They just wanted me to be safe.

Without much thought, I would quickly type “leaving” in the group chat, press send, and within a few moments both my mom and my dad would respond something along the lines of “kk love you drive safe”.

Every. Single. Time.

But I can’t forget about the teenage angst when I would forget to text my parents I had arrived to my destination and lash out on my them because I believed I was better than their rules. I thought having my car taken away for the week sounded like the worst punishment in the world. God forbid I had to ask my friends for a ride or have my mom drop me off.

Looking back, it wasn’t a stupid rule in the slightest. And I regret ever having those feelings towards them.

Fortunately, I have parents that care so deeply about me that they would stay up until I walked through my front door.

They are the type of parents that would handwrite me notes with scented stickers on them and hide them in my lunchbox no matter how late they were running for work that day, just to reiterate the love that they had for me.

They are the type of parents that made me write thank you cards for every gift I received even if it was to the distant great aunt that I don't remember meeting.

The older and wiser I get; I understand that not everyone has parents like mine. And the more and more people that filter in and out of my life allow me to appreciate, more than ever, the upbringing I had into this world. I aspire to raise my kids the way my parents raised their three daughters.

…

When I was in seventh grade, my mom and I got hit by a drunk driver. It has literally scarred me to this day. I remember rotating my neck ninety degrees counterclockwise to see my mom crying in crippling pain. By the grace of God, we survived. But that accident changed my outlook on life so much that one of my biggest fears is losing someone without telling them I loved them.

I end every single phone call, conversation or FaceTime with my friends, coaches, cousins, grandparents etc. with “I love you bye” or “text me when you get home.” Anyone in my circle would be able to justify that.

It is second nature to say those words to people now. My subconscious mind has gotten so comfortable that when I was on the phone with my dermatologist one time I said 'I love you' when I was about to hang up. That is almost as bad as when you are at the movies and the box office worker tells you to enjoy your movie and you respond "you too".

Sooo embarrassing. It looks like I will never be showing my face at that office ever again.

But for real…

I text Julie every time I drive back to school that I love her and that I’ll see her soon- just in case I get into a car accident.

I tell Bela every time she boards the plane back to New Orleans that I love her and to text me when she lands- God forbid one of these times things take a turn for the worst.

I hug my grandparent’s goodbye and tell them I love them every time we part ways- because you just never know.

There is no time to leave important words unsaid.

…

It doesn’t even have to be the phrase ‘I love you’.

Sometimes we are too stubborn to say the words ‘I’m sorry’. I promise you; you’re going to regret holding a grudge.

Sometimes we are too full of ourselves to say the words 'thank you'. Gratitude is such a simple way to acknowledge a person's value.

Why are we so hesitant to tell people we love them?

Why are we so hesitant to tell people how much they mean to us?

Why are we so hesitant to speak up for what we believe in?

Tell someone how you feel. Say it out loud. Scream it.

The way you make someone feel says a lot about who you are. Say I love you sincerely and often. Life is short, unexpected and full of opportunity.

I encourage you to ‘say it before it's too late.’