Words are funny things. They can harm, they can heal. They can make you cry or make you laugh. Words might seem insignificant, but they are really quite powerful.Some are more sensitive to words than others. I'm very sensitive to words. I have always been sensitive to words. I have this entire backstory that ultimately results in: I don't trust others. Not easily, anyhow. Because of events in my past I have serious trust issues and although I might seem like a bouncy, social butterfly to many, I rarely let many people in to see the real me. And just because I'm laughing and joking with you, doesn't mean I trust you. I probably don't.These trust issues have lightened slightly as I age. My 30s are a lot less full of suspicion and distrust, my late 30s (OMG. Does. Not. Compute.) are actually even more mellow than the earlier part of this decade. But I still trust very few people. Although I now know that I have a small core group of those I trust implicitly and for them I am extremely grateful.But back to words.There are words that I have always longed to hear throughout my life. Phrases that if said to me, meant that I mattered. Obviously, "I love you" was at the top of that list, and I am so, so, lucky to have those words said to me on a daily basis. But words like, "you matter", "you're important to me", "this made me think of you", are also on that list. I'm the type of person who believes that if I am not there, live and in person, next to you, that you won't ever think of me, or remember me. So many things will make me think of others, a colour, a type of clothing, a book, a food, etc. But does anyone experience that about me, when I am not in the room with them? That's something I used to obsess about over and over as I was growing up. I can assure you that when you deal with depression and anxiety on a daily basis, that's one of the major themes to worry about. Those little voices in your head that tell you you don't matter, and that no one will miss you if you're gone.I am happy to report that this isn't something that plagues my every waking moment anymore, although those little voices do make their way through once in a blue moon.A little while ago I woke up to a text message that almost made me cry. Mind you, I was also dealing with the grief of losing Jinx, so I was slightly extra emotional, but still. The text included four simple words:"Wish you were here."All sorts of emotions roared through me when I read the message for both my friend and for myself. Why for myself?Because no one has EVER said that to me before.Can you believe it? I have never had someone say to me they wished I was somewhere they were. The message hit me hard, for so many reasons on both sides. But mostly, I felt so loved at that moment. I realize that wasn't the point of the message, but to me, to have someone actually wish I was with them. I felt like I mattered and I was so thoroughly touched and moved that I almost cried.And then I thought that I was being rather pathetic.But that message has stayed with me a long time now and I keep thinking about it and I keep thinking about how lucky I am to have love and friendship in my life. Stuff I honestly never thought I would ever have. I never thought I'd be married to someone who makes me happy every single day, and who loves me fully and completely. I never thought I'd have friends I could count on when I needed them, who cared enough for me to help me get through the crappy times. I have friends that I made years ago, whom I used to worry about not wanting to be my friend, who are so dear to me. I have newer friends that I made in the last 15 years that help hold me up when I fall. All of these people help put my pieces back together when I am so broken I don't know how I can go on.And sometimes, these people even wish I was there. And that's something I have longed to hear since I was just a wee little thing. Maybe I do matter. Maybe I am memorable.Yesterday was Esther Day, a day to tell those who mean the world to you that you love them. Again, simple words. But words that MATTER. Words that heal, not harm.Simple words, but important words. Significant words.So, dear friends, I love you. Thank you for being part of my life.