So Proud of Her

When was the last time you told someone you are so proud of them?

My youngest brother Brandon’s wedding provided the perfect opportunity to share this message with my 12 year old niece whom I only get to see 2-3 times a year.

The words came out so natural as I reflected with her on the special memories we share. She has always been very mature for her age and the conversations and laughs we’ve had have contributed to the special bond between us.

I told her how proud I was of the young woman she is growing in to and commended her on her perseverance and continuous smile as her and her Dad (my brother Matthew) have endured quite a bit over the years. They’ve always maintained a super special and loving bond since the day she was born.

By the end of our conversation, her and I both were in tears. Tears of joy. Tears of love. Tears of realness. Tears of connection.

While it’s not always easy to share my feelings with someone, I was so grateful for this opportunity to let her know how proud her uncle is of her.

Whether she knew it or not, she also gave me the opportunity to practice sharing from the heart.

And this is the foundation of meaningful connection and real conversation.

Real conversation is saying the words that can often make your voice tremble. The ones that you can get stuck on because of their heaviness, yet feel so light once you say them.

These are more of the words we all need to share. The ones that can be buried deep within our hearts and maybe even covered up with years of neglect.

The more I continue to share the words that were once buried or stuck inside me, the more I contribute to impactful relationships.

And these are the types of relationships I desire to create, strengthen, and maintain.

So whether you’re talking to a 12 year old or a 90 year old, share from the heart, speak with realness, and open yourself up to speaking the words that penetrate beyond the superficial layers of communication.

You never know how proud you might make someone feel, and how great it feels for them to return the same feelings toward you.