5 min read.
I am so very guilty of not following this. We are all busy. I use that as an excuse all the time. I honestly am very busy you won’t catch me on the couch very often if ever. I am not telling you that to make you think I am so great, it’s because it’s true and helps to drive this point home. People who I know and care about know that I am always on the go. I take on too much every day, working to do it all and make everyone happy. Over the past few years, I have become more selfish in the way of I won’t skip a workout, a personal work session, or anything that may impede my growth. But, with that comes guilt, turning down happy hour, bonfires, boat rides. It’s a sacrifice I am willing to make. This all goes back to my post about legacy.
But there is an issue with this.
I miss the people in my life that matter the most, I sit in meetings, behind my computer, or phone for at a minimum 12 hours day. The weekends this is reduced but not by much. On the weekend I play catch up on life chores to survive the next week. I have to also mention that I am introverted and being in a leadership role and working with people all day sucks the energy right out of me. I need that alone downtime to “marinate” as my co-workers like to say. My available time for my people is mostly me drained, thinking about work, stressing about legacy or how I can achieve my personal goals.
I am going at one million miles an hour daily and this puts up blinders to important things in life like seeing people, sending them cards, gifts, thank you offerings. I use to be an all-star at doing now I am a total failure. I feel so extremely selfish.
Quick side story, my friend, and mentor was in town a few years back. He text me to hang out, and I was tired, burnt out, and told him let’s make plans tomorrow. The next day he went into a coma from a brain aneurysm, he passed a few days later.
Sorry to be so dark, but this is life, there are no tomorrows. You have to live for today. For me, that needs to be more time with the people I care about. I have been working on this for the past few weeks and I feel better. It’s not perfect I am still working like crazy but making an extra effort to listen and give time to others. So reach out, make the effort and see the people you care about, or even a call/text. It’s important and is the only thing that really matters.
At the end of the day, will it matter if you answer every email in 12 hours?
No.
It will matter if you go to see a friend and we listen and exchange stories, providing one another with love and support.
I recently added this to do list weekly: being a better friend and family member.
Thanks for reading. xo
