We’ve spent a lot of time talking about the importance of travel, but this Mother’s Day I wanted to spend a moment on family.

With Mother’s Day here once again, we wanted to take a moment to recognize all mothers–whether alive today or simply live on in your heart. Really, the reflection and appreciate should be happening year-round, but the date is an important excuse to pay more attention.

Family is important

People might come and go but family will always be there.

Everyone is part of someone else’s family. And while I’m sure you could trace roots and find out that–gasp–we all might be related from tens of thousands of years ago, it’s fair to say that no one keeps in touch with everyone on this planet. So, let’s keep the focus manageable down to who you consider to be family. For some that can include close friends and others much more narrow than that.

As we move through life, it’s nice to have that constant support that family brings. It helps through the ups and the downs to have someone there to share those experiences with. That’s why while we like new experiences, we also focus specifically on the time we spend together. Doing something together with someone else excites us more than that same experience while solo.

It’s also why when we travel, we’re open to bringing others in the family along with us. While it’s more expensive–and sometimes award space is more of a challenge–we’re more than happy to bring along the family. It means that much more for us to share what moments we have together.

Last Mother’s Day was challenging for our family

Every so often, I have to travel without the family related to some volunteering that I do. While it’s nice to be able to see other like-minded friends on these trips, my thoughts are still back on home. And traveling on Mother’s Day and days leading up to it wasn’t my intent. As an aside, it’s nice that Delta has a display in at least some of its Sky Clubs where you can mail a postcard to just say hi wherever your mom (or any family member) might be.

Anyways, once making it to my destination, I get the news that Jenn’s mom was fighting for her life (sepsis) and it was almost like we were just waiting for official word. Though she wasn’t my biological mom, it’s still heartbreaking to hear and, as my friends could attest, I was thoroughly distraught. Not only was I not at home to support my wife emotionally, she had to also deal with the kids. Thankfully, my parents were able to help with the kids while I awaited word on whether I should immediately come home.

Somehow, through gallons of blood transfusions and several surgeries, she survived. It took months of recovery involving multiple visits to the hospital and a lengthy stay in a skilled nursing facility. Modern medicine and health procedures are incredible as it truly feels like she’s been afforded a second chance.

And for it to all start on Mother’s Day just felt so cruel at the time. But no one said life would be fair.

Don’t forget to appreciate what you have when you have it

What’s the real takeaway for us? It’s simple to say ‘life is short’, but there’s more to it than that. There is no guarantee for anyone to make it one more year. Is it probable? Maybe from an actuarial sense, but still something can suddenly change your outlook from likely to survive to likely not. This isn’t supposed to be a call for people to live like there’s no tomorrow but there has to be a balance.

Life can be long or it can be short. But how much you get out of life really just depends on what you yourself have invested in it. That’s why this Mother’s Day feels more like a direct reminder to take a moment out and appreciate the little things. Because it’s easy to fall into the habit of just living for tomorrow without realizing that life can change in a heartbeat. We recognized that last year.

While happy times almost certainly won’t be here to stay forever, we can still do everything we have to cherish those moments until that happens. And by that extension, we want nothing more than a peaceful Mother’s Day this year for us and for every family out there.

Happy Mother’s Day to Jenn and all mothers out there!