Valentine’s Day is a time when we often think about expressing our love to others, but it’s also a reminder that life is short and we never know what the future holds. This year, I want to encourage everyone to take the opportunity to tell the people they care about how much they mean to them, because it’s important to let those we love know that they are appreciated and valued.
I know that for me, expressing my feelings can be difficult. I tend to be more reserved and don’t always find it easy to put my emotions into words. But last year,, I had a wake-up call that reminded me of the importance of expressing my love to the people in my life.
My dad always used to say, “Don’t worry about the horse going blind, just load the wagon.” In coach speak, it means, just keep plugging and don’t worry about what’s going on around you. Just keep doing what you’re doing; the others will take care of their part. He lived by those words. He was a strong, kind, and loving man who always had a smile on his face. He was a “head down and keep working” kind-of-guy whose work ethic I try to emulate everyday.
Leland had a heart attack last year, but we were able to spend his last few days with him, telling him how much we loved him and what an incredible influence he had on our lives. We said all the things we should have been saying for years. Looking back made me realize that waiting to say the things we should to the people that mean the most to us, shouldn’t be left to their dying days. It should be everyday, especially Valentine’s Day. Please take this opportunity to let those around you know how much they mean to you.
You never know what tomorrow holds.