Family First

Hey ya'll! Did ya'll miss me last week? I had a family emergency, so a post didn't happen. That emergency did spark the post for this week though.

I'm very big on family and the well being of my family, so anytime a call is received that someone in my immediate family is hospitalized, my first instinct is always to get to where they are, no matter what I'm doing, what my schedule is looking like, if I'm working, etc. I will not hesitate to let my manager or client know I have to leave town to ensure I am there for my family. I don't ask for permission and I don't apologize. I inform and I go. Gratefully, I've managed to engage with others who also understand the value of putting your family first, so I am always met with, do what you need to do for your family. Unfortunately, this isn't the case for everyone. There are literally people (managers, supervisors, etc.) who give employees a hard time about taking time off to deal with family matters and I am here this week to encourage you to do so anyway! If family is important to you and you are working under someone who doesn't value that, it may be time to seek employment elsewhere. There are plenty of job opportunities out there, you can even create your own opportunities, but that family member who needs you now will not always be around. Time here on Earth is certainly unpredictable (and limited) and I think we really have to try to fully understand and accept that. We may think well, they'll recover or there'll be another game, play, birthday, etc. and truth is, there may not be. Take the time available now to be there for your loved ones.

You are not obligated to give all of your time to your employer or even your business for that matter. Set boundaries and stick to them. Do not be afraid to put your family (and yourself) first. It amazes me the stigma that has been created around taking time for yourself or your family; like people are really afraid sometimes to take time off because they fear losing their job and in exchange, miss out on special moments because of it. Let's dead that stigma this year. Moving forward, we are using ALL of our vacation days for whatever we choose and if unexpected days off are needed for emergencies, we are taking those too! How ever our employers or clients choose to feel about it is none of our business.🤷‍♀️ Still be sensible about it though lol, don't just go taking days off just because. I'm not here to get you fired or lose business, just here to encourage prioritizing time with your family.