Three Hardest Words To Say

Several years ago, if you told me to say “I love you” to my parents or siblings, I would have laughed and brushed you off. The mere thought of verbalizing such emotional words that made me feel so exposed and vulnerable was excruciatingly uncomfortable. We all knew that we loved and cared for each other deeply; but we never actually uttered those three tough words. Never!

Regardless of class, education, or background, matters of the heart and expressing emotions verbally have traditionally been a no-go zone in Indian culture; this was particularly the case when I was growing up and generations prior. Furthermore, saying these words in our mother tongue or national language, Gujarati and Hindi respectively, sounded really weird and perhaps best reserved for Bollywood. Being shy and reserved has also been a fundamental part of the Indian culture. And I was particularly shy around my Dad when it came to certain things.

LIFE EXPERIENCES

After my divorce, I was acutely aware that I got a second chance at living my life and I did not want to live a life of regrets. My parents supported my decision to divorce and stood by me. As I got some tough knocks in life, it simultaneously increased my respect and appreciation for my parents to deeper levels. This, combined with the painful events of September 11^th, made me realize like never before about how abruptly our lives can end.

I was overcome with an intense and impatient need to want to verbalize to my parents, in person, that I loved them. This was the one thing that I did not want to regret. This had become mission critical. I was determined to break down the generational and cultural walls that had existed for all these years. And I was going to start with the toughest one—my Dad!

TICK TOCK. TICK TOCK.

Within months, my parents came to visit me in the USA. Tick tock. Tick tock. Days passed by quickly and there was never a right time. Then, one evening, I stole Dad and we went out for a walk. We settled for our quaint and idyllic neighborhood park with picket fences and all. There was no one there except for chirping crickets, bright shining stars, and us. It was perfect.

I have no idea what we talked about that evening because I was too busy battling within. I was rehearsing three difficult words. How do I say it to him? Should I place emphasis on any word or just say it really fast? I was visualizing what it would sound like when I finally say it out loud. It felt really strange and convincingly uncomfortable.

I could not even say it in my head! These three words turned into a jumble of mumbo-jumbo. As I got my last minute practice in, I sounded like Evan Baxter (Steve Carell), the news anchorman in the comedy film Bruce Almighty, when Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) rewrote the teleprompter with a bunch of gobbledygook.

HEAD TRASH

And then, the real head trash started. The dance of self-doubt began. This was just a silly thought on my part. What difference does it make if I say it or don’t say it? We all know that we love each other. It’s not necessary. Things are just fine the way they are.

I also started to wonder how Dad was going to respond! Will he ignore me? Will he get really uncomfortable? Will he acknowledge my words, but then not say it back? Will he brush me off and tell me I’m being silly? Will he tell me I’m being shameless? Will he get mad at me? Will he …

At some point I stopped the inner idiot from sharing her two cents. I had heard enough. I reminded myself why it was important for me to convey these sentiments to Dad in person. His response was not in my control. I could only control my actions, thoughts and words. And even if the worst scenario transpired, the fact is, I will have told Dad how I felt about him before either of us no longer had the opportunity to do so. And that’s all that mattered.

Time was ticking away, again. I sensed that very soon, Dad was going to suggest we start walking back home. I had to say it now. It was now or never. And while I cringed inside with my stomach knotted up and played volleyball with those three words one last time, I finally mustered up the courage and said, “Dad, I love you.”

And without missing a beat, Dad hugged me and said, “I love you.”

We just hugged and held each other for an eternity. Time had paused. And in that tight eternal hug, I thanked him a hundred times in silence for being such a pillar of a Dad.

Since that moment, almost thirteen years ago, we’ve ended every phone conversation with

“I love you.” While it’s been uncomfortable every time, it has also continued to get less uncomfortable every time. Today, I am finally fairly comfortable saying it to my parents and siblings. Mom still gets a little shy about it, but she always says it back. To diffuse her shyness, she laughs or gets goofy while saying it. And that’s pretty darn cute.

I love you – three little words that are the most difficult to verbalize. And yet, they are the most powerful words to say and hear when done with deep sincerity. It has healing powers. It’s liberating. It’s living with no regrets!

Published: February 11, 2015

Twizted Myrtle is sustained by readers like you. As a solo creator, crafting each piece demands significant time, money and resources. Your ongoing support, big or small, makes a real difference. If the content here enriches your life in any way, please consider becoming an ally as a sustaining patron.