I had other things to write about today. But sometimes life throws you a curveball, leaving you with no choice but to reflect.
I’m still reeling from the tragic loss of Adam Robinson, his wife, their two young children, and others aboard a private jet that crashed Sunday afternoon near West Palm Beach, Florida.
I didn’t know Adam. Our paths never crossed. Some may think it strange that I can’t get him and his family out of my mind.
But parallels in our lives make this tragedy feel particularly close.
We both built careers in the tech industry.
We both became parents later in life.
And we both knew the joy of building families while pursuing ambitious dreams.
On Sunday morning, Adam and his family departed Austin for the Bahamas.
I imagine it was a day filled with anticipation. A trip with family and friends. A beautiful destination ahead. Memories yet to be made.
By all outward appearances, he had so much of what people spend their lives working toward.
A successful career.
Financial security.
A beautiful family.
A future filled with possibilities.
And in an instant, it was all gone.
It makes me reflect on my own life. My achievements. My plans. The things I sometimes take for granted.
The tech career I enjoyed. Achieving motherhood after a ten-year struggle filled with pain and loss. The blessing of early retirement. Writing my book. And now, pursuing a mission to help others create beautiful families on their own terms.
I have worked hard for these things. I have sacrificed for them. And I am deeply grateful for them.
But this tragedy reminds me of something that's easy to forget when we're busy building our lives.
None of it really belongs to us. It's merely rented. And only God knows for how long.
Adam’s loss reminds me to be a little more intentional about how I spend the time I've been given.
I'll unplug and make more time for the people I love.
Let go of the petty annoyances and grudges that don't really matter.
Worry less about things I cannot control.
And remember that the ordinary moments we so easily overlook may turn out to be the most precious ones of all.
Let’s not forget…every day is a gift. It’s up to us to make the most of it.
Has a tragedy involving someone you never knew ever made you stop and reconsider your own life?
