It was 6am on Thanksgiving morning, and we were boarding a flight from Las Vegas to Arkansas after a long drive the night before. As my family walked down the jet bridge, the airport still quiet, I looked up and felt a spark I hadn’t noticed in a while. I saw my wife holding hands with our youngest son and my older boys just ahead. I realized how alive I felt simply being in motion with them. In that unexpected moment, I remembered how much I value stepping out of the daily grind and being fully present and exploring new experiences with my family.
Since that moment, I’ve tried to be more intentional about noticing these cues. Quiet minutes in the morning before the house wakes up, a sincere conversation with a client, and pushing hard at the gym have all carried that same spark. These are the places where my authentic self shows up and thrives.
The reverse is also true. Just as certain moments make you feel alive, others drain the life out of you. It might be a relationship, a job, or a commitment that leaves you depleted instead of fulfilled. Those signals matter just as much. They’re telling you to question whether those parts of your life are truly serving you. Life is too short to stay stuck in routines that drain you for no purpose.
That quick trip to Arkansas reminded us how much travel unlocks our best selves. It reminded us that we need to begin planning and looking forward to our next adventure over spring break. We want to create more of those moments on purpose rather than waiting for them to appear.
Here’s my challenge to you:
For the next twenty four hours, pay attention to when you feel that spark of being alive and when you feel that drag. Notice it. Write it down. Share it with someone who supports you. If you ignore these signals, you risk drifting through your life without ever naming what actually matters. If you start listening now, you will create more of the moments that do.
