Hello everyone. It’s my honor to stand on stage, and I’m grateful to share my experiences with you here today.

    I stared at him. I watched a teardrop drip on to the collar of his shirt. I was so surprised because it was the first time I’d ever seen my dad cry. Had it struck him that my grandfather had passed away? Did he regret not sitting by my grandfather’s side as he took his last breath?

    My dad was a successful journalist, a busy person — too busy to return to his hometown for my grandfather’s final moments.

    Dad loved grandfather after all, I thought, it’s just that he didn’t spend much time with him after he had settled down in Shenzhen. Work occupied his schedule, and even during long holidays dad was busy. Although dad had known grandfather was in pretty bad shape, he’d kept thinking there would be enough time to visit him. He hadn’t realized there was only a short time left, until he received that dreadful phone call.

    I suddenly realized that if we talk to our family members every day and go to visit them more often, maybe some unnecessary regrets can be avoided.

    At that time I didn’t know the word “cherish” as I was only 5 years old. Now I know that if you don’t cherish the people who are closest to you then who do you cherish? And then don’t you tell me “there will be enough time.”

    Cherish your family members…before it’s too late!