This was my first Thanksgiving that I spent away from my immediate family that I can remember. It’s not like Thanksgiving is a special holiday for us, but I’ve been away from my family for 22 of the last 30 days and so not being there for a family event was something I definitely noticed.

Meanwhile, for the past couple weeks I’ve had some amazing opportunities to connect with my mom, uncle, and family and friends I don’t normally see. It has been an absolute treat to spend time with them. So, it’s not like I’m missing out, I am just not used to being away from my wife and kids for so long.

What I’m noticing is how much I value shared experiences with people I care about. Time with family and friends is precious. The quality of our experiences are made richer by who we share our time with. This seems like something overly obvious to say, but I think it’s worth noting ‘out loud’… who we spend our time with really matters.