Say

I listened to ‘Say’ by John Mayer, unintentionally, on repeat for about an hour the other day. I meant to program my iPod on ‘repeat all’ but the song kept playing over and over and I was too preoccupied to change the settings, so I left it. I guess that makes the first three times unintentional; the other 14 times were on purpose.

John Mayer isn’t my favorite. I’m not a music snob, [I like Justin Bieber so I don’t think I can be] I'm just not familiar with his music, but I heard this song in Karate Kid and I liked it so I downloaded it and here we are.

have no fear for giving in

have no fear for giving over

you better know that in the end

it’s better to say too much

than to never say what you need to say

even if you’re hands are shaking

and your faith is broken

even as the eyes are closing

do it with a heart wide open

a wide heart

Say what you need to say.

The song is quit repetitive, which is probably why I didn’t notice it was on repeat for about 15 minutes. He sings: “Say what you need to say” like forty times, but it got me thinking. I don’t do this. I talk a lot, but I don’t really say anything.

Coincidentally, or maybe not, I later read one of my favorite talks by President Monson and came across a very fitting quote:

“Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. . .We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.”

This is my hope: to say what I need to say, to express myself more freely and with more meaning, to choose my words more thoughtfully and fill them  'with faith and hope and charity, the three great Christian imperatives so desperately needed in the world today. With such words, spoken under the influence of the Spirit, tears can be dried, hearts can be healed, lives can be elevated, hope can return, confidence can prevail.’ [Elder Holland.]

So dear family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers … I love you. Thank you for being in my life. I have no doubt you’re in it for a reason, and hopefully the next time I see you I will say what I need to say.