Todd’s Take: “Luv Ya!” Vs. “I LOVE YOU”

One of my earliest childhood memories was when my grandmother taught me how to point to my eye and say, "I". Then cross my hands over my heart and say, "Love". Then stick my finger out and say "You". Then spread my arms as wide apart as I could and say, "THIS MUCH!".
As I got older, I realized I wasn't saying that nearly enough. Why is that? It's one of the first things I ever learned how to do. We all love hearing it being said TO us so why, pray tell, do we have such a hard time telling the people in our lives -- that we truly do love -- just that?

And I don't mean, "Love ya!". Or, "Back atcha!" There, to me, is a distinction. Something powerful, spiritual even, and liberating occurs when we utter the phrase, "I love you." I'm always a bit surprised when I say it to family or friends and they don't reciprocate (not that that's why I did it, mind you).

I had an epiphany in the form of a dream when I was in my early 20's in the form of a dream. A very vivid dream. Seriously. I awoke sobbing because, in my dream, my baby sister, Bonnie, had somehow passed away and nobody seemed to really care. It was then and there that I promised I would tell my sister, brother mom and dad that I loved them every time I saw or talked to them. Every. Single. Time. I don't ever want to regret not. And even if I say it every time, there will come a day when one of us will want to say it or hear it just one more time.

I challenge you to try it for yourself. I promise you that you will find it liberating.

To my fellow dudes: Don't be afraid to say it out loud. Even to other guys. Someday, you might regret not having had the nerves to do it. I hope that doesn't ever happen to me. Or you. It doesn't have to. Just, simply, breathing life into three little words is all it takes.

Last, but certainly not least, I'd like to say to anyone and everyone who has listened to me on the radio over the last 30-plus years, "I. Love. You!"
Rock on! \m/ \m/
Todd E. Lyons, Esquire