Life has a way of demanding our attention — and throughout the day, it’s easy to find ourselves pulled in different directions without even noticing. I find this only gets more intense the older I get. The little free time we do have is cherished, but it never seems like enough.
Despite how busy we are, there’s a good chance (which I’m sure you would agree) that whatever time and attention we give is rooted in good intentions. Take me, for example. Aside from work, I like to think my time is focused in the right direction: self-improvement, exercise, marriage, learning, work-life balance, community, etc.
However, I had a recent wake-up call about how I was falling short while living this out during a trip to BC to visit my parents.
A Needed Conversation
During that trip, I was downstairs helping my mom with laundry and catching up on some much-needed time together. In the middle of conversation, I felt the need to address the elephant in the room — something I had been feeling guilty about. I acknowledged that my communication with her had taken a hit over the last 12 months.
While I was busy getting engaged, married, moving, and pursuing my passions, our conversations became shorter and more hurried, and the frequency of my calls and texts slowed down. My mom has always been my number one supporter (a title Annie now shares). Although we’ve lived 4,000 kilometers apart for almost 20 years, I’ve always bragged about how special our relationship is.
While that’s true, my mom reminded me of something that really landed: what sustained our relationship was communication. It was the quality of our conversations and our connection. It was about making the time — not out of obligation, but out of love and intention.
I knew I had fallen short. It was the reminder I needed to hear.
Back Burner Realizations
One thing I’d put on the back burner in my pursuit of doing the ‘right things’ was my family relationships. Sometimes we can get so caught up in chasing our purpose that we miss the most important part of it — the people in our lives.
We’re human. We all fall short in the quality of our relationships at times. And when we do, we have the opportunity to respond — by making time for what truly matters.
Getting Back on the Path
Sometimes getting back on the path isn’t about fixing a major mistake — it’s about correcting drift. Life pulls at us from every direction. Work, growth, goals, marriage, health — all good things. But even good pursuits can crowd out what matters most if we’re not intentional.
If you’ve drifted in an area that matters, don’t let guilt keep you stuck. Awareness is an invitation to course-correct. This week do the following:
1. Audit your attention.
Ask yourself: Where have I drifted? Who have I unintentionally placed on the back burner?
2. Make the time this week.
Schedule one intentional connection — a call, coffee, or conversation without rushing. Don’t wait for more time. Create it.
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