Tell People What They Mean To You

I am not going to promise this is the last blog I am going to write about my 40th college reunion, but this is a universal message that comes from my reunion. It applies to your reunions, work life, family life and just your interactions with strangers sometimes.

On Saturday, while I was sitting around catching up with college friends at a gathering of all the people who were in my graduation class and a classmate, Becky, came up to me and said, “Hi, Dana. You are the only person I know here.”

Becky and I have only gotten to know each other thanks to my blog and our Facebook interactions. While in school we never lived in the same dorms, were not in the same classes or sororities, or clubs and really didn’t cross paths at school.

Becky continued, “This is the first reunion I have come back to and I wish I had a chance to do something over because I think we would have be been friends in college. I read you blog and think, ‘Wow, I feel exactly the same way.’”

First, for the record, Becky ended up being friends with everyone at the reunion. Second, the statement about wanting a do over so we could have been friends longer was very impactful to me. Telling people what they mean to you can be profound. For both the teller and the receiver. We just don’t do it enough.

All weekend this same scenario was repeated over and over again. When someone tells you in a heartfelt way that they have always loved you or that they feel like they are always connected to you, despite the fact that you don’t ever see each other is wonderful.

Reunions are too short. I spent some good quality time with some very close friends who I adore and they know they are important to me because we have kept in touch and will continue that. But there were lots of people I didn’t get enough time with to really tell them.

So many times I have had someone give me some life changing advice or do me a favor, or turn me on to something new and I don’t go back to them and tell them how impactful that interaction was. Sometimes I don’t remember until I am in the place where the situation happened. That’s why going to reunions are important because you are flooded with memories by being in the place where they were made.

So I am imploring you to be like Becky. Go to your reunions, feel the feelings and tell people what they mean to you, or just make new friends. I promise it will be the highlight of their day and yours as well.