The Greatest Investment

Those closest to us deserve our best

“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” — Michael J. Fox

I remember this day like it was yesterday. December 3, 2011. She was a couple of days away from her 15th birthday. I know it was a Saturday because it was our tradition to let Mom sleep in while we went to a local coffee shop for breakfast. I stuck to black coffee while Sarah got a “Carminilla” (a caramel vanilla latte) and a cranberry scone.

Seven years earlier, I left a job in a different city. It was a job that had become so draining that I would get depressed pulling out of the driveway each morning. I felt stale and stagnant. I filled my life with early morning fitness classes and endless miles of road bike riding to dull the boredom. I loved fitness and spent every spare moment focusing on anything but work. It seemed to soothe the numbness of day-to-day life. Unfortunately, something had to give, and that was quality time with my family.

I had the opportunity to move back home and work for a company I interned with during college. We moved close to family and lifelong friends. Even though we had a great support system, it was a reset for us in many ways. I was out of the same routines I’d been in for several years and had the chance to establish new patterns.

Saturday coffee was automatic in the early days. Sarah and I loved hanging out together. However, as Sarah got older, sleeping in started to take priority for her. At some point, Susanna suggested that I make a pot of coffee at home so I might not be so grumpy waiting for Sarah to get up and around!

I don’t regret one Saturday morning I spent with Sarah during these formative years. We still talk about it today. It is simply one of the best investments I’ve ever made in my life.

I have a question for you. Is there anything you prioritize in your life over your most important relationships? Is there a hobby or work getting in the way of connecting with those closest to you? Do you think you have endless time to get these relationships right?

This blog is short. And so is time. So stop reading and get in touch with that family member or friend you need to connect with. Do the work. Invest your most precious resource, time, with those who most need it. You will never regret it.

Thank you for reading, and have a fantastic week!

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