I once heard a story of a married couple who were on the way to their favorite restaurant. In the car ride over, the wife turns to her husband and says, “Honey, do you love me?” The husband was confused by the question. “Of course I do. I told you I loved you the day we were married 33 years ago, if anything changes, I’ll let you know.”

Let’s try not to develop that same mindset. Don’t always assume people know how you feel. Make it a point to tell people that are most important to you how you really feel – build them up and give them plenty of compliments. It has been said that this type of communication is a key factor in making relationships stay strong. Make a mental list or a real one, of the qualities you appreciate best about the people in your life – family, friends, partner, etc. Let those be your focal points and make sure to voice them often.

I’m not sure why some people have a difficult time with the phrase “I love you.” Its one of the most powerful and transformative things you can add to your relationships. Growing up, my family said “I love you” all the time. It was just the way we communicated. Even if you weren’t raised in a similar situation, start making a habit out of expressing appreciation and love for those closest to you. It will not only mean a lot to your loved ones, but will also have a profound effect on you as well. Expressing yourself freely and openly is a form of emotional health and maturity.

Love keeps no record of wrongs…

One day, 2 mothers took their kids to the park for some playtime. The two women sat on the bench watching their kids play and laugh. Suddenly, one of the children pushed the other one down and said, “I hate you!” The other little girl started crying. Before the parents could spring off the bench and intervene, their children were laughing and joyfully playing on the swing set – even taking turns pushing each other.

Children have a remarkable way of letting things go that we, as adults, hold on to forever. They were able to drop the whole thing and move on, enjoying each other’s company. If you ask me, we should become more “child-like” and learn to release past offenses and forgive. That way, we can really get the most out of our relationships and learn to be happy, rather than creating blockages between each other.

I love you,
Stephen