“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
~ John F. Kennedy
The weekend kicked off with mixed emotions as I helped a special client close on the sale of her home. While it's always bittersweet to say goodbye to clients who are relocating out of town, this parting was particularly meaningful. She'll be relocating to the community where I grew up to begin her exciting next chapter.
It's deeply gratifying to have a client invest in the community that shaped me - a wonderful full-circle moment. I look forward to her experiencing all the charming traditions and connections that shaped my adolescent years. Later that evening, I enjoyed dinner and drinks with some other wonderful clients, hearing all about the ways they're living it up in retirement.
I then hit the road to Nebraska to reunite with some of my oldest and dearest friends for a wedding celebration. There's something grounding about being surrounded by the people who knew you when you were just figuring out who you wanted to be. Watching one of my "cousins", who is gorgeous inside and out, marry her soulmate reminded me of the immense power of cultivating relationships rooted in love and commitment.
The whirlwind continued as I raced back home to host a graduation party for our son, Kade. For him, this milestone carried greater meaning. For those of you who do not know, he has special needs, and while not so severe that high school was out of reach, the future holds much more uncertainty. Witnessing him walk across that stage last week filled us with pride for how far he's come, nostalgia for his childhood, but also apprehension about what lies ahead.
The possibilities can feel overwhelming. For next year, our plan is for Kade to continue at his high school in a transition program, and then we'll re-evaluate. But rather than fixating on tomorrow's worries, we are fully celebrating every accomplishment today because he has earned his right to be celebrated.
As family and friends gathered to honor his achievements, we felt immense gratitude - not only for their support, but for the reminder to savor each hard-won moment. Kade knows how proud we are of all he has accomplished and that is the greatest gift we could give him.
On Memorial Day, we paused to reflect on the tremendous sacrifices of our nation's veterans at a solemn service of remembrance at the J.S. Parker Cemetary. It was a powerful reminder that freedom is never free. We then enjoyed a rare, unscheduled afternoon together over a casual lunch and quality family time, without the constrictions of deadlines and incessant digital pings.
This stretch of downtime was restorative in a way that is difficult to put into words. For the first time in ages, I felt wholly present. Rather than mentally calculating my never-ending task list, I was immersed in conversations, embraces, and moments of sincere human connection that technology can never replicate.
While our jobs are undoubtedly important, they should be the means rather than the ends in our lives. True wealth is measured in moments, not financial statements. This Memorial Day weekend was a poignant reminder to safeguard sacred spaces in our calendars for what really matters - our families, our friends, our communities, our values.
In our frenetic, productivity-obsessed culture, downtime is often viewed as a luxury or laziness. But the reality is we become our best selves and do our best work when we have had the chance to recharge, reconnect, and regain perspective. Striking that balance requires ruthless prioritization and boundary-setting.
What rituals, tools, or support can you incorporate to protect the temporary pockets of time for what you value most? Perhaps it's scheduling obligatory work-free periods, engaging an accountability partner, or conducting a calendar audit to weed out unnecessary commitments. Maybe it involves being more discerning about which responsibilities you take on or firming up a self-care routine.
The payoff of feeling grounded, connected, and intrinsically motivated is exponentially greater than whatever we may have sacrificed in the name of "being productive". Memorial Day served as a powerful catalyst for me to reprioritize and realign my life. What will be yours?
