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Good afternoon!

Last week we traveled across the country with our kids. There were great memories made - and the whole trip felt like a Worthy Win.

On top of that, there was a particular memory from one of our travel days that will be forever burned into my memory.

Anyone who has traveled with youngish kids knows that there are invariably lots of things that come up and make the trip interesting. With the current ages of our kids one of those interesting things is that all three of them often end up on the floor… wrestling.

Including in the middle of the airport.

Sometimes I’m able to stop it quickly and other times it happens at an inopportune moment like when we’re trying to check in for a flight.

In those moments, the wrestling continues on for a bit longer. 🤪

This exact scenario unfolded as we were in the check-in line. As I was trying to get things in order with the boys, I noticed an older gentlemen behind me in line. I was concerned he might have been upset by something that had happened, but as I looked at his face, it was clear that he was actually enjoying watching our boys go at it.

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There was a twinkle in his eye as he looked at them and prepared to speak.

And then he opened his mouth, but unfortunately, I have no idea of exactly what he said to me.

He wasn’t speaking a foreign language per se, but what came out was a twisted mess of sounds.

He had completely lost his speech.

His smile showed that his brain was still working and he had something joyful to say about the scrum on the floor with the boys - but his tongue was no longer cooperating. Thankfully even though I didn’t know what he specifically said, I knew what he was trying to say. He was loving the scene.

“How great would it be to just get on the floor a wrestle a bit, eh?” I responded back to him.

He grinned and let out another train of words I couldn’t understand.

I smiled for a long second before I said, “I’m trying to remember these moments go quickly.”

He nodded back at me - still grinning ear to ear.

No more words were needed.

TAKING IT FOR GRANTED?

I went back to the flight check-in process, but I couldn’t shake what I had just experienced.

That man and I had connected - even without real words. His inability to speak clearly made me consider a challenging question…

What am I taking for granted right now?

How much would he love to have his speech back? He would probably do anything to be able to have his tongue working again, right?

I’ve written a lot about this lately, but the reality is that everything in our life could change in an instant. “The call” I wrote about a few weeks ago is going to come. It’s just unclear on exactly when it will come.

Which is why my Dad’s passing has pushed me to not want to take any of this life for granted. But that’s easier said than done.

Do I still take things for granted? Yup.

Do things like my kids wrestling on the floor in the airport feel frustrating? Yup.

Do I realize I’m going to want these moments back someday down the road? Yup.

And that shows I’m prone to take these moments - and many other amazing things in my life - for granted.

GETTING CLEAR

So, that means I have to do the work to remind myself of what’s most important.

Worthy Wins require remembering. And they are built upon perspective.

Which all comes back to the question - what am I taking for granted right now?

My health? The age (and joy) of my kids? Their energy? My core relationships? The work opportunities I have?

I don’t want to take any of that for granted - but there is so much going on and so many things I could do.

In Chapter 4 of Worthy Wins I wrote about this reality...

As much as I want to do everything, I have to make choices because I have limited TEA. Being clear about - and remembering what’s is worthy of my limited TEA is crucial.

In the book of James, Jesus’ half brother, writes that now is the time to take action.

Don’t wait for tomorrow to start pursuing what matters most.

This simple Death Bed Exercise is a way to drive clarity around who matters most to you - and what are things you might be spending time on that are wasting your TEA.

Ultimately, my experience in the airport last week was a reminder that I can take simple, meaningful things for granted. I don’t want to wait for a moment like not being able to speak to start pursuing Worthy Wins.

Rooting for the same in your life!

Much love,

JO

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{Saint Augustine, FL 32080}