To me, one of the worst things that can happen to a friendship is feeling that there is something that needs to be said, but isn’t.  Even when everything looks fine on the outside, it can hang over each person and not be resolved.  That’s because it is still there, in the room with them, even when nothing seems wrong to other people.  The unspoken words live in our minds and amends or clarifications cannot be made if they remain there.

This happened to me.  One time, when I was upset about something I just couldn’t express it at the time.  I was afraid that I would cry and make a spectacle of myself.  So I remained silent, and the unspoken words became an obstacle for me.  The longer they were unspoken, the more difficult it became.

Finally, after a considerable amount of time had passed, my friend showed up for me when I needed her most.  Then, I could bear it no longer and the words poured out of me like a waterfall.  The tears I had kept inside of myself were released and I felt the burden being lifted from my shoulders.  My friend was not even aware of the weight I had carried.  She had understood my feelings all along, never realizing that I had carried this distress within myself.  The tears restored me and allowed me to forgive myself and move forward.

Now there are some words that should be left unspoken.  When hurtful or judgemental thoughts enter our minds, we need to hold back from saying things that we will regret.  Usually, it is our emotions that cause those words to appear.  Negative emotions must be examined before such words are expressed.

I have learned these lessons by experiencing them.  I thought expressing them to you would do me some good and it has.  Maybe my experience will be of interest to others.  Thanks for reading my thoughts. For that, I am truly grateful.