make time. You have to make quality time (sorry, I hate that
expression as well) for all those around you to whom you
make a difference. Those who love you get repaid in time—it’s
a fair exchange. They love you, and you give them something
of yourself, something precious. Yep, your time and attention.
And you do this willingly, not as a chore. You do this with
dedication and commitment and wholehearted enthusiasm—
or you don’t do it at all. There is no point spending quality
time with your kids, for example, and using that time to catch
up on work or read the paper or get tomorrow’s lunchboxes
ready. You have to be there entirely for them, or they’ll know
your attention is elsewhere and they’ll feel cheated.
So when the phone rings and it’s your mom, your grand-
mother, or your old friend but you’re really busy doing
something, don’t keep her on the phone making “uh huh”
noises while you simultaneously finish searching the web or
writing that letter. Either put everything down and give her
your full attention, or ask if you can call her back later—and
make sure you do. One day she might not be there—and then
you will so desperately wish you’d actually listened. But then
it’ll be too late. So make time for the people who matter—
today.
THE MORE WE PUT INTO
OUR RELATIONSHIPS,
THE MORE WE
GET OUT OF THEM.