I was 19. My favorite uncle, on vacation with family, drowned as he body-surfed the waves on a sunny Florida beach. Heart attack, they said.
I LOVE YOU – © LYON 2026
I was crushed. Not only because I loved the man, but because I had thought to call and tell him I loved him before they left, but never got around to it. Now I’d never get the chance.
Oddly, as I walked through a bookstore a few days later, a book leapt off its shelf into my hands. I’m not kidding. One moment it was innocently sitting there, unmoving-as-could-be, and the next, flying through the air. Good thing I had fast reflexes.
It was the Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ.
Now, I’m not a Christian. After reading that book, I’d never be. Because it varied so far from what the ‘regular’ bible tells us that my thinking was now too-out-there. I’ll leave it to you to go find and read it. It’s a beautiful book.
What it told me was that we are eternal beings. I’d never given anything like that much thought before. I wasn’t raised in any particular faith or lore. To me, life just . . . was.
But that book opened my eyes to the invisible, to the world within us. It said our essence never dies. We continue, after death passes us through its veils. I felt the hugest comfort from that.
So I got relief from my belief that I’d never be able to tell my uncle I loved him. At night as I laid in bed, I’d imagine him at that beach, saying I love you, and you’ve always been my favorite uncle. He’d smile, and tell me he loved me, too. Made me feel so good.
More than that, I decided from then on, if I felt love for someone, I’d tell them. Right then and there. No shame if anyone else was there with us – just blurt it out.
No stopping, no waiting for dawn when it’s 3 am and I’d usually not want to wake them up.
I decided on that one because one night when I called a close friend at that exact time, she told me she was so depressed that she’d given up, and was about to go walk into traffic.
My call saved her life – she’s still with us, today.
All that just to say, if you love someone, tell them.
Now.
Don’t wait.
Don’t hold back.
Let the energy of your love fill them up as you say the words to them – I love you! I love you!
Because ya never know. Right? You just never freaking know the impact you can have on someone’s life.
Besides, it just feels so good.
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IT’S NEVER TOO LATE to SAY I LOVE YOU
© Angela Treat Lyon 2026