Today we celebrated my mum’s 65th birthday with 30 close friends and family. In less than 10 days I will have lived in the UK for 6 years. Before that I lived in Copenhagen for almost just as long.
Though not as far it’s still in a different country and it adds up to close to 12 years abroad away from close ones. During this time I’ve gotten used to seeing and speaking to family and friends less. I’ve gotten used to missing out. Not being able to attend birthdays, parties or a regular Sunday dinner. This weekend has been wonderful and made me realise how much I miss it all. But also how I could do more in order to be closer despite being far away.
It’s easy in the hecticness of everyday life to de-prioritise picking up the phone and giving someone a call. To prioritise work over social life as you have to get the job done. But it’s also important to remember that few people, when they look back at their life wished that they had worked more. And that spending 10 mins less on Facebook or Twitter could mean that phone call you don’t feel you have the time to make.
As this adventure of starting something moves into it’s first deadline it’s good to keep these thoughts close to heart. To get some distance when working that little extra is sucking you in.
Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted.
– Paul Pearshall
Tomorrow – Day 036 | Week 5 summary
Image source: www.flickr.com/photos/bonnarn/6203326702
