The Constants are a Blessing

While transitioning from one work item to the next, I decided to take a break and watch a sports documentary on YouTube. In the program, this athlete commented about how a drug addiction ended his professional career, and now that he was sober for more than a decade, he was able to reflect on what is most important to him.

As he put it, “It was so easy to get caught-up in the fast life when I had unlimited money. Looking back, though, I realized that true blessings in life are the constants.”

He went on to say … “The beautiful part of life is what I often ignored … my wife, my kids, my faith, and just the everyday stuff that is part of being normal.”

Keep it Simple

The athlete in this story reminded me that the most beautiful parts of life are the everyday things that I sometimes take for granted, such as the following examples:

• Spending a week with the family on a vacation to any destination.
• Having a heartfelt conversation with a friend.
• Tidying up things around the house to make our dwelling look better.

While I do like to shake things up here and there, I find that the most memorable experiences, the ones firmly embedded in my mind, relate to everyday life.

The other day, for example, I vividly remembered a car ride with all four kids as we headed to an event. I have a clear memory of where everyone was seated and the general conversation we had as we drove along.

I recall thinking, “It won’t be long before these kids grow up, so let me enjoy every minute of this experience.”

There was also the time during Covid when we rented an entire theatre for just $100 to watch a Christmas movie as a family. Given we were the only ones in the theatre, the boys and I decided to get into a spitball fight!

I think I won! Ha!

These are just a couple of the beautiful memories I hope to never forget.

Quantity over Quality

The sports documentary with the pro athlete reminded me about something I heard more than 30 years ago on a self-development audiobook …

“When it comes to family time … Know that quantity of time spent is often more valuable than being focused on quality activities.”

As I get older and see life from a different lens, I think there is a lot of truth to this comment. As long as I show up and do my part, great and long-lasting memories will be created.

In the sports documentary, the athlete was remorseful of how he had let things get out-of-control. However, he was now at peace with himself knowing that his life had taken a turn for the better. His wife had stuck with him, but he also did his part to overcome the temptations of the drug addiction.

Don’t get me wrong … I know that money has its place in our society, but I’m also smart enough to know that money will never buy the most beautiful memories life has to offer.?

Homework Inquiry

During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: How will you unite your family?