From an email I received………….
Is your life unbalanced and priorities upside down? If your health, relationships and goals are misaligned, I’d like to hear from you and what you do to course correct. Please hit the reply button so I can hear your story.
A Quote From My Father That Haunted Me for Years
When I was young, I started working full time at the age of 12 at my father’s business. This meant my mom picked me up after school and I worked until 10:30 pm, typically doing my homework in the back room when I had a free moment.
I loved sports, but leaving after school for work didn’t allow much time for that until high school.
I remember one night in junior high, I wanted to go to the school dance on a Friday evening. Of course, I had to work, so my dad brought me to the dance two hours late. As he dropped me off, he said something that stuck with me for years…
“Remember son, it’s not always about the quantity… it’s about the quality.”
Before you start judging my dad as a slave driver, I need to say one thing. My father was a good and honest man. Those were hard years for my parent’s business and they needed my help.
I never regretted spending those evenings at work, but my dad’s comment to me as I sat outside my school never sat well with me.
As I grew older and had children of my own, I soon realized that I became a workaholic and rarely took time to just be and play and enjoy life. I realized that, while I did have quality (which is good), I didn’t have quantity (which is bad). I was living by my father’s motto all these years later.
That’s when I realized my kids (and me!) need quantity AND quality.
My priorities were upside down.
The Importance of Life Balance
Life can be stressful, and when we’re stressed with paying the bills, we can often times allow our health and relationships to suffer.
A few years ago, I had the privilege to sit down with a very wise man, who has since passed. He told me something I will never forget…
“Remember, you can’t take your stuff to the grave.”
That message rings in my ears almost every day.
What’s really important in my life?
Am I giving my kids the quality and the quantity that they need from me?
Am I maintaining my health?
Am I living according to my beliefs?