I recently gave my adult class homework. The assignment was to "go to someone you love and tell them you love them. It has to be someone you have never said those words to before or haven't shared those words with for a long time".
That doesn't sound like a tough assignment, but most of the men in that group were over 35 and were taught that expressing emotions is not "macho (男子汉的) ".
At the beginning of our next class, I asked if someone wanted to share what happened when they told someone they loved them. One of the men raised his hand. He appeared quite moved and a bit shaken.
He began by saying, "I didn't feel that I had anyone to say those words to. But as I began driving home, I knew exactly who I needed to say 'I love you to. Five years ago, my father and I had a disagreement and never resolved it. We hardly spoke to each other." "The next morning, I called my dad. When he answered the phone, I said, 'Dad, can I come over tonight? I have something to tell you.' I assured him it wouldn't take long, so he finally agreed."
"At 5：30, I was at my parents' house ringing the doorbell.As luck would have it, Dad answered the door."
"I took one step in the door and said, 'Dad, I just came over to tell you that I love you'"
"His face softened, his wrinkles (皱纹) disappeared and he began to cry. He reached out and hugged me and said, 'I love you too, son, but I've never been able to say it.'"
"Dad and I hugged for a moment longer. I hadn't felt that great in a long time."
"Two days after that visit, my dad had a heart attack and ended up unconscious in the hospital. I don't know if he'll make it."
"My message to all of you is this：Don't wait to do the things that need to be done. Take the time to do what you need to do and do it now!"
