I have had the opportunity to live two ways the last 7 months.  1)like I was dying and 2) saying good bye because I was moving.

The biggest take away from these experiences is how much I value and appreciate the people in my life. Since I am moving, I have maxed out my calendar with my friends and family to visit, have lunch, meet up for dinner or play dates.  And most importantly, no matter the inconvenience, I tried not to cancel. 

And you know what I took away from all of these get togethers?  Why didn’t we do this more often!! 

My husband likes to remind me that corporate America is still the same, stressful, fast-paced place that I left over a year ago.  My friends go over their children’s weekly schedules and the rat race of running around town to get to everything that they are signed up for.  I am not suggesting people work less or not as hard, or you take anything away from encouraging   your child to be involved. All I am suggesting is to take a moment to look at what you make time for in your day, week or month. No you can’t do everything or be everywhere and sometimes what you need is a night in and a good night of sleep. 
Nikki commentary:

I actually think my small group of friends benefited from my cancer diagnosis. Because prior to my diagnosis, we took each other off the priority list. We canceled our monthly get togethers, we didn’t respond to our weekly catch up emails because life was to crazy. There wasn’t enough time. But when I got sick, it made us STOP. It was our wake up call that this is life and the time is now. Aside from all the physical pain, I am glad I could be the person to bring us back together!

Now, I’m not sure our husbands appreciate our new outlook that our kids will be fine at home with Dad while Mom catches up with her girlfriends but I can say that we are better women, wives and mothers because of it!!

© Nicole Szymonik and This Is the Pause Button, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Szymonik and This Is The Pause Button with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.