"Shower the people you love with love."

There's a great lyric from a James Taylor song that goes, “Shower the people you love with love.” It seems pretty obvious but unfortunately in today’s world it’s not as straight forward as it should be. For whatever reason we have a culture that limits self-expression, and sometimes makes you feel silly for telling people how you feel. I think the source of this is that many people care what others think, and if you stand out in the way you behave it makes you vulnerable to judgment and criticism. So in order to avoid that we don’t always show our true colors.

But for those people that you really care about, they probably really care about you too and won’t feel like it’s inappropriate for you to let them know. They won’t judge, and they’ll actually embrace your vulnerabilities, which will allow you to deepen your relationship with them. How good would it feel to build that intimacy with someone else? Well then you go first, because they’re likely feeling the same limitations as you do, and if you lead with vulnerability then it opens the door for it to be reciprocated.

So don’t hold back! And that’s what the rest of the lyric says - “Shower the people you love with love. Show them the way that you feel. Things are going to work out fine if you only will.” Send texts and letters, give big hugs, Call out of the blue. The little effort it takes to tell people how you feel leaves a massive impression, and it makes a difference. It makes their day. And as it goes with positivity, it’ll probably circle its way back around to you.