Perhaps this is not an uplifting thought, but I believe that somebody reading this post needs to hear this particular message today an, even if that person isn’t you, perhaps this message will mean something to you too someday.

Realize that someday the words you speak to someone will be the last thing they hear from you and the last time that they hear your voice. Will those words uplift and inspire or will they be words that hurt? Will those words reflect your love for that person or will they be words spoken in anger, jealousy or fear?

While this future reality is certain, we don’t need to dwell on it; we just need to be aware that we have a choice in every word we share and we can use that word as a powerful tool to convey compassion, love, or gratitude. We don’t need to be disingenuous or falsely flattering, there is always a genuine and positive word that can be spoken.

No matter what the transition, no matter whether we believe in an afterlife or not, we are the ones that have to live with the last words we spoke.