A September Reflection on Time and Priorities

The calendar page is about to turn, and as I look back on September, it feels like a month of profound contrast. I wanted to take a moment to check in, mostly to say that I am okay, but also to process a few things that have been weighing on my heart.

Life has its own rhythm of giving and taking. On the "giving" side, my monthly class was a welcome and manageable challenge. It’s always a good feeling to make progress and tick a box off the to-do list, a small victory in a busy season. This season has been defined by a lot of travel for work. The miles logged in airports and nights spent in hotel rooms are part of the job, but they come at the cost of time at home. The distance from my family has been palpable, a constant ache that reminds me where my heart truly is.

Then, there's the "taking" side. This month, our community was rocked by the sudden loss of a couple of lives that were cut tragically short. It wasn’t distant news; it was close enough to feel, to serve as a powerful and sobering reminder of life's unpredictable nature. You can't help but be affected when you see futures, dreams, and time with loved ones simply vanish.

It's in the quiet moments—staring out a plane window or sitting in a silent hotel room—that these thoughts coalesce. You realize the deadlines, the projects, and the daily stresses are just noise. The signal, the thing that truly matters, is the life you live and the love you share.

So I’m writing this for myself as much as for anyone else: Don’t wait. Call that friend you've been meaning to catch up with. Forgive that small grievance. Hug your kids, your partner, your parents. Tell them you love them. Take the trip. Eat the good food. Live your life now, because tomorrow is never guaranteed.

I’m okay, but I’m also changed. And I'm more grateful than ever for the moments I have.