Be a person who shows up

0:03Speaker 1:Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's tip is to be a person who shows up. You may not think your presence matters, but it does. And developing an identity as a person who shows up can make decisions on what to do with your time easier. So the older I get, the more I realize how important it is to show up for big events in people's lives. Weddings, funerals, birthday parties, bridal and baby showers, marking milestones in community is powerful. Now, I have heard some people tell me they have a different approach. At a big wedding, you won't see the bride and groom much or talk with them much. So it would be fine to skip the wedding and just get together with the bride and groom some other time. And I suppose that is true. But these aren't either-or things. You could go to the wedding and get together with the bride and groom. Yes, time is limited. But people do manage to scroll around online for hours daily. I am guessing most of us could make more time for people if we wanted. And people are a good use of time.

1:36Speaker 1:Most people remember who came to their wedding. And even if you don't spend much time with the bride and groom, you'll get to spend time with other people who you do know are there. And that can be great as well. Now, I know there will be times when schedules or finances or other commitments mean you can't make it to a wedding or funeral or other milestone event. But when you can, Do. It matters. It particularly matters for smaller things that might not be terribly well attended. If your friend has an art showing in a local gallery, you should try to go to the opening and bring others as well. Unless your friend is the most well-connected person in town, it is quite possible that your crew will be the majority of people there. Your friend might know that you support them in their art regardless, but they will definitely note your presence. So be a person who shows up. Developing identity as a person who shows up can help with making decisions. If you are tired, but your friend has that gallery opening, well, you are a person who shows up.

2:56Speaker 1:We will always be tired. What? Are you saving your energy for? Now, obviously, there is a balance here. If you go to extended family and friend events so often that you are neglecting your immediate family, that can be a problem. It is not your spouse's job to cover for you with the kids indefinitely so you can go to everything. You need to make sure that both of you have the freedom to show up for people in your lives. But in general, you can take a relationship from good to great by showing up for milestone events or anything where your presence will really matter. It won't take much time. Soon it will be in the rearview mirror.

3:43Speaker 1:But the person will always remember. Best to be on the good side of that memory if you can. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening. And here's to making the most Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at laura at lauravandercam.com. Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, please visit the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.