show, don't tell

Do you remember being in English class and hearing the teacher say, "Show, don't tell!" when referring to your writing?

It's something that's stuck with me all those years later. 

That can probably partially be attributed to the fact that I continued to take English courses in university and even went so far as to doing part of my major in the subject, but also because it is a saying that transcends academia.

Show, don't tell. Show others how you feel instead of solely telling them. If you love someone, saying it is one thing, but showing it is another.

And that's what I try to do. For someone who loves to talk about my feelings, I am not always that great at communicating them. Sometimes it's because I'm afraid of the potential backlash or that it will lead to an unwelcome outcome and sometimes it's because I simply don't have the words to say.

So, I do my best to show it. I do my best to show it by asking people how they're doing (and genuinely wanting to know). I do my best to show it through my actions — through giving and caring and listening and holding. I do my best to show it through the way I look at people. I want people to be able to know that I love them through a single glance or a simple touch.

But sometimes you need those words, too. Sometimes people don't understand or realise until you've said those words out loud to them.

And what do you do if they aren't there to hear them anymore?

A A - the neighbourhood watch