I always think when I say goodbye to someone, be it someone who lives across town or several hours away, "did I make sure they know how much I treasure and love them?"

Is that goofy? Or just overly emotional?

I have lost some very dear loved ones over the course of my life. A mother and a grandmother, among others. But those are the losses that shape my actions now.

I don't mean to sound sad or want sympathy. I just strive to understand myself.

I want to be sure I let people know how much they mean to me, or how proud I am of them, or how fortunate I am to have them in my life. Everyone teaches me something. To be patient, to be more optimistic, to be more flexible and live in the moment...

I am a work in progress, and I am grateful for the gift of so many to learn from. Just as I am sure they likely learn from me. How to be detail oriented or perhaps my seemingly limitless cache of random movie trivia?

I just replay those "last time I saw that person" moments in my head and hope that last kiss, hug or murmured words truly hit their mark. And will hold until I see that person again.