This week isn’t going as planned. This week was supposed to be a staycation where I would put everything into motion for an upcoming book publication. On Saturday morning, I sat down with my cup of coffee at my computer and set about with building out the next couple months of my life. I had just started typing when the phone rang and getting the news that my mother had passed away. Needless to say, the weekend was a bit trying and this week is not going to go as I had planned. That’s okay. Sometimes things happen in life that set your priorities for you. I’m okay with that. I’m fully trusting that God’s plans are bigger and more important than my own. I’m just blessed to have a role in them. My mother, despite her health challenges, was not terminally ill, nor was there any signs that her already numbered days were about to reach their end. The writer in me finds a bit of irony in the fact that my intentions involved setting about the launch of a book that spoke much about sharing your life experiences and key lessons with your children before your time is up and here I was, going through the motions of my own mother’s passing. Obviously, there is a lot I wish I could have said to her and questions I could have asked her before her passing. The fact of the matter is; I could have. But now that time has passed. This unfortunate experience is accompanied with regret and sadness, though it also affirms my belief that the message of Listen Up Kids continues to be an important one. It began as a letter to my kids and grew into something more. Today, I want to challenge you… say what needs to be said to those closest to you (click to tweet that). Not one second of your life is guaranteed. So make the call, send a text, draft an email, compose a letter – do what you need to do to let your loved ones know your love for them. Even if you haven’t seen or spoken to them in years. Even if there are hard feelings. None of that matters. What matters is the fact that you care enough to say what needs to be said. One great way for you to get started if you’re having trouble is to seek out the program, Leave Nothing Unsaid from Jody Noland (note: I have zero affiliation with this program, nor do I get any monetary reward – I just want everyone to get as much help in this as possible). I share more about this sort of feeling in Listen Up Kids, but please know, this is not about me trying to sell books or rally a groundswell! I’m simply trying to share what’s on my heart so others don’t carry the burdens of regrettable silence on their own. In fact, if you have anything to add to this topic, please, please, please comment here.