Remembering how precious our time is together.

Sometimes, life has to slap you in the face to remind you of all the special people in your life. And sometimes, it will sting more than other times. This blog entry is a little more personal this month, but my message to business owners is still here in the article: Don't lose sight of what is important in life.

It slapped me last month during a quick stop at my parent's house on the way back to Kansas City. Within 15 minutes of my arrival at their home, my father suffered a TIA - a  Trans Ischemic Attack.

Because of the pandemic, we were not allowed to visit him during his two-week stay in the hospital. It was painful to see and hear his confusion via Facetime or phone. But for an 86-year-old guy, he's doing wonderfully. We are grateful to have him back. He was a daily morning walker, read books voraciously, had an aptitude for language (speaks three fluently), and is a retired physician who had a grasp for mathematics. All those skills have helped him recuperate as my 80-year young mother learns a new routine and a new role.

I have always held my family very near to my heart, regardless of distance. And I am not shy about telling any of them I love them. However, when life gets busy with the business of finally doing business again, it's easy to get lost in the chaos. So for the last month, I have been splitting my time between Des Moines and Kansas City. Three to four nights in Des Moines, and 3-4 nights in Kansas City. Because I am self-employed and I'm able to do some work remotely, I am fortunate to spend this time with my parents.

I know we can't predict what life is going to hand us, but we can do something about creating time for what's essential in life. Make the time to spend time with the important people in your life. You won't regret it. I sure don't.

By: Carolina Hillman