It’s been almost 2 months exactly since my wife and I sold our small business, 5 years, 9 employee’s, millions in revenue during that time, and a countless number of evenings and Saturday mornings that I missed because I was at the shop.
There’s no newsletter this weekend. Don’t get the impression that I write these on Saturday mornings, I actually did wrote the study on John 4 earlier this week.
But going into this long weekend, I plan to watch my boys play in the backyard while Taylor and I have great conversation. I plan to have dinner with some great friends for a 30th birthday party. I plan to work on home renovation projects with Taylor and make waffles with my sons.
We have such a prominent hustle culture in America and we have utterly convinced ourselves that this is noble, that we need to be working and building something constantly to be of value. But here's what I realized in the last two months: those Saturday mornings didn't just cost me time. They cost me joy. I robbed my family of Saturday mornings with their dad who was fully present. I robbed myself of watching my kids be kids when their hearts were lightest and their imaginations were wildest. It wasn’t a waste of course, that sacrifice will pay dividends that give me more time with my family as the dividends compound, but for now, I’m being present and keeping my work contained to the weekdays.
This is your reminder to be intentional about your rest. To guard your joy as fiercely as you guard your schedule. The work will always be there, but your kids won't always be this age. The moments you're missing right now won't replay themselves when it's more convenient for you. So take the long weekend. Sleep in with your family. Make the waffles. Watch the cartoons. Let the emails wait. The world won't end if you choose joy over hustle for a few days. Trust me, I'm testing this theory right now.
In your corner,
Chance