This article was originally published on LinkedIn on 12 February 2020.
To all who have taught me love - family, friends, lovers, and strangers, I wanna thank you.
Thank you, for coming into my life, for staying, for leaving, for returning.
Thank you, for making me laugh like I have never laughed before.
Thank you, for making me shed tears I never knew I had.
Thank you, for choosing to put aside your phone just to be present with me.
Thank you, for awarding me a genuine smile each time I see you.
Thank you, for wondering if I needed something while you were getting one for yourself.
Thank you, for leaving me a random message, just to check in on me.
Thank you, for keeping an eye out for an empty seat for me, after I had offered you mine.
Thank you, for pointing out my shoelaces were undone, even though I had never spoken to you before.
---
Thank you, for offering to show me the way.
Thank you, for syncing your footsteps with mine, as we walk down familiar paths.
Thank you, for that brief moment of touch, from which I felt your warmth.
Thank you, for asking permission.
Thank you, for asking for my opinion.
Thank you, for trusting me with your deepest secrets.
Thank you, for not saying anything, when you sense there are no need for words.
---
Thank you, for forwarding a poem or article to me, when you think I might enjoy reading it.
Thank you, for sending me photos of your travels, during your travels.
Thank you, for taking all those pictures of me.
Thank you, for looking into my eyes, and for letting me look into yours.
---
Thank you, for asking how I'm feeling today.
Thank you, for reminding me to travel safe, rather than berate me for being late.
Thank you, for teaching me to slow down, when the world is moving too fast.
Thank you, for telling me to take as long as I need.
Thank you, for inviting me into your space.
Thank you, for reminding me that perfection doesn't exist, and I am okay just the way I am.
Thank you, for saying you will never hurt me.
Thank you, for saying you will always be my sanctuary.
---
Thank you, for helping me peel off those masks.
Thank you, for making me a better person, in one way or another.
Thank you, for raising your voice that day, which made me realize that all you wanted was to be heard.
Thank you, for reaching into the depths of my anger to reveal that it was only fear.
Thank you, for showing me that underneath the need to control, lies a desire to care.
Thank you, for taking such good care of yourself, for fear of pulling me down with you.
Thank you, for saying that you are learning to love, without the need to be loved back.
---
Thank you, for telling me what you want your funeral to look like, and how your ashes are to be taken care of.
Thank you, for including me and my loved ones in your well wishes.
Thank you, for all the heartfelt words you have said.
Thank you, for telling me about your boundaries, and asking me about mine.
Thank you, for just listening.
Thank you, for making me feel safe.
Thank you, for your patience, for letting me be.
Thank you, for cheering me on, even when you have no idea what is going on.
---
Thank you, for assuring me it is okay if I don't want to share my thoughts.
Thank you, for saying good-bye, even though you don't have to.
Thank you, for allowing me to say good-bye, and sometimes make a silent exit.
Thank you, for reminding me that this may be the last time I see you.
Thank you, for reminding me this isn't the first time I've met you.
Thank you, for the many, many lessons on love.
-----
Thank you, for coming into my life, for staying, for leaving, for returning.
Thank you, for making me laugh like I have never laughed before.
Thank you, for making me shed tears I never knew I had.
Thank you, for choosing to put aside your phone just to be present with me.
Thank you, for awarding me a genuine smile each time I see you.
Thank you, for wondering if I needed something while you were getting one for yourself.
Thank you, for leaving me a random message, just to check in on me.
Thank you, for keeping an eye out for an empty seat for me, after I had offered you mine.
Thank you, for pointing out my shoelaces were undone, even though I had never spoken to you before.
---
Thank you, for offering to show me the way.
Thank you, for syncing your footsteps with mine, as we walk down familiar paths.
Thank you, for that brief moment of touch, from which I felt your warmth.
Thank you, for asking permission.
Thank you, for asking for my opinion.
Thank you, for trusting me with your deepest secrets.
Thank you, for not saying anything, when you sense there are no need for words.
---
Thank you, for forwarding a poem or article to me, when you think I might enjoy reading it.
Thank you, for sending me photos of your travels, during your travels.
Thank you, for taking all those pictures of me.
Thank you, for looking into my eyes, and for letting me look into yours.
---
Thank you, for asking how I'm feeling today.
Thank you, for reminding me to travel safe, rather than berate me for being late.
Thank you, for teaching me to slow down, when the world is moving too fast.
Thank you, for telling me to take as long as I need.
Thank you, for inviting me into your space.
Thank you, for reminding me that perfection doesn't exist, and I am okay just the way I am.
Thank you, for saying you will never hurt me.
Thank you, for saying you will always be my sanctuary.
---
Thank you, for helping me peel off those masks.
Thank you, for making me a better person, in one way or another.
Thank you, for raising your voice that day, which made me realize that all you wanted was to be heard.
Thank you, for reaching into the depths of my anger to reveal that it was only fear.
Thank you, for showing me that underneath the need to control, lies a desire to care.
Thank you, for taking such good care of yourself, for fear of pulling me down with you.
Thank you, for saying that you are learning to love, without the need to be loved back.
---
Thank you, for telling me what you want your funeral to look like, and how your ashes are to be taken care of.
Thank you, for including me and my loved ones in your well wishes.
Thank you, for all the heartfelt words you have said.
Thank you, for telling me about your boundaries, and asking me about mine.
Thank you, for just listening.
Thank you, for making me feel safe.
Thank you, for your patience, for letting me be.
Thank you, for cheering me on, even when you have no idea what is going on.
---
Thank you, for assuring me it is okay if I don't want to share my thoughts.
Thank you, for saying good-bye, even though you don't have to.
Thank you, for allowing me to say good-bye, and sometimes make a silent exit.
Thank you, for reminding me that this may be the last time I see you.
Thank you, for reminding me this isn't the first time I've met you.
Thank you, for the many, many lessons on love.
-----
 | About the Author Erin is a mindfulness teacher and an advocate of mindfulness as a way of life. She pledges to keep running towards brightness, and to support others in the same way. Connect with Erin, because she would love to practice mindfulness with you. Do give a like, leave a comment, or share this article if Erin's words resonate with you! |
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