This past week has been crazy. On Tuesday I launched my second book, The Gratitude Challenge, and unexpectedly on Thursday my husband worked a 20-hour shift. Yes, you read that correctly, twenty hours!
On Friday, family came into town and on Saturday we hosted a belated Christmas gathering. Needless to say, our one on one time over the past week didn't happen.
Sunday, as I sat writing book number three, boom! The house rattled, startled I jumped, what the heck was that?
I continued writing and moved to checking off tasks on my to do list.
Boom! Again, the house rattled and this time I yelled to my husband, "What is that sound?"
He chuckled, and responded his friends were shooting exploding targets.
"Oh! Why aren't you over there with them?" I replied.
"Because you asked me to stay home with you for the Super Bowl."
A twinge of guilt permeated my body.
I'm sure he'd rather be with his friends on Super Bowl Sunday than sitting at home with me. I even told him a couple of times to go and don't worry about me.
To be honest, I was fine to be home by myself and tick through the 200 things on my to do list that I needed to get done before tomorrow.
But then I thought back to what I often preach from the stage and even in my writings.
I'm often asking my coaching clients, "Are your actions aligning to your priorities?"
If the answer is no, sometimes we must make sacrifices to get in realignment.
And so even if my husband would rather be watching the super bowl with friends, though he never indicated this, just sounds more fun to me than hanging with your wife...lol, and I could use the time to work through my to do list, at the end of the day we are each other's priority.
Sunday wasn't about watching the Super Bowl. It was about him cooking me dinner. Us sitting together, while the Super Bowl was on, and chatting about the past week. Discussing what we had going on in the coming week. Our time together was about reconnecting and getting synced up from a crazy week.
I believe, on reason, a relationship fails, is due to continuing to kick the can down the road. We go weeks or even months without focused time together. And this doesn't just have to be in marriage. I see it in companies where managers don't connect with their employees, where parents don't make time for their children, and when friends no longer get together because life is "busy."
Yesterday taught me, as life has repeatedly, I'll never regret the time I spend with my husband, my family or my friends. My "to do" list, can always wait.
Who do you need to make a priority this week? Take out the calendar, cancel a meeting, and schedule time with someone that is your priority.
With gratitude,
Stephanie
Inspirational Speaker and Award-Winning Author of “The Giving Challenge: 40 Days to a More Generous Life” and "The Gratitude Challenge: 41 Days to a Happier, Healthier, & More Content Life"
