I recently witnessed a beautiful, spontaneous display of genuine emotion that touched my heart.
My daughter recently returned from living abroad for the last year and a half. Our family was attending her sister’s high school graduation.
This event was one of the first times seeing and renewing acquaintances for this older daughter since returning home a couple of weeks earlier. She had graduated from the same high school three years ago and had not been in touch with many of her high school friends.
After the ceremony as family and friends were mingling, I observed as my daughter and a friend from high school caught sight of each other.
This friend, with such an expression of surprise and joy on her face, grabbed my daughter and hugged her as if she would never let go. Tears of happiness flowed freely.
I was so moved by this moment.
This friend openly expressed her joy at seeing my daughter again. She spontaneously and unashamedly felt and expressed her true emotions!
It was a tender and special moment.
I learned something from these two friends.
Perhaps it’s generational, cultural, a family custom, a personality trait or any combination of these, but I’ve often been self-conscious about disclosing my feelings, believing self-restraint was more desirable.
And maybe it’s because expressing myself has been a challenge over the years that I found this encounter so refreshing and reaffirming!
These mature 20-year old young women delighted in showing their affection for one another. There was no embarrassment or judgment. Their expression of genuine emotion was precious and sweet.
How might our lives be different if we told the people we loved that we loved them?
What if we eliminated the fear of wondering what others might be thinking of us and chose instead, to more freely express appreciation for the kindness and caring of others?
If you find it difficult to express love to others, I challenge you to take courage and express your heartfelt feelings today! What wonders in your relationships and life might open up to your honest expression of love and appreciation?
Much love,
We must jump at the chance or possibly regret for the rest of our life if it deems to difficult to share our feelings of love for fear of rejection or disappointment. As it has been said, “It is far better to have love and lost than to not have loved at all.”
Oh, yes! I so appreciate your comment! Even though it may not be easy to share our feelings, living with regret is far more difficult.