Time

We received some terrible news yesterday. A local family we have been acquaintances with for years lost their youngest son in a car accident. I cannot fathom the pain and loss this family feels right now. My heart aches for them. I made sure to tell my oldest son last night, that no matter how old our children get, they are literally a part of us that happen to be walking around on this earth. Losing a child would be equivalent to losing a piece of you permanently.

Earlier this year, our family lost a dear friend/family member in a similar way. My husband and I were on our way to Las Vegas for a soccer tournament for one of our youngest children when we were told the devastating news. I will never forget the helplessness I felt. I could not be there in that moment for my oldest children. No words could console the excruciating pain they felt. Nothing that we could say or do would take back the fact that he was no longer with us.

Through painful times like the moments above, it is normal to do some soul searching. It is also normal to ask, “what do I need to change?” For me, the answer is to be more present in the time I have with my family. The business can be quite needy and all-consuming at times. Recently, my 13 year-old and 9 year-old told me that they feel like they don’t ever get to see me. Those words hit hard. Up until that point, I thought I had been handling my extremely full plate pretty well. I guess not. The truth came out of the mouths of babes.

I will spend some time refocusing my priorities. We are not guaranteed goodbyes to our loved ones, and no day is promised to anyone. Not only will I be more present for my family, but there will never be anything prioritized above them. They not only need to hear that, but they need to feel that as well. You don’t know how precious time actually is until it is taken from you. Hold your loved one’s tight today.