You Only Get 18 Summers

Earlier this summer, someone shared an article with me making the point that as a parent, you only get 18 summers with your kids. Only 18 summers to help your child learn the wonders of sprinklers, s’mores, pool parties, popsicles, fireworks, and all of the other fun adventures that make you nostalgic for the countless memories from your own childhood.

When you’re in the day-to-day of parenting, it can be hard to remember to cherish the small moments that will make up those fleeting memories. When I read the article, it really inspired me to be more intentional about how we spent each of those 18 summers. On a day-to-day basis, this meant slowing down to take evening walks to the park or teaching my daughter how to kick a soccer ball. It also meant making the extra effort to pack everyone up and take trips to the beach or the lake to spend time with family and introduce our daughter to the special feeling of a “summer weekend.”

I think this concept of a wider perspective can be applied to a career as well. Too often, we think in the short-term, or what’s right in front of us. But when you take your career as a whole - whether it’s 20 years or 40 years - how can each project, or experience, contribute to the whole? How can your current project affect what comes next? How do you use your current or past experiences to propel you into your next goal?

When my child is older, I want to look back and know that we made the most of each summer. Likewise, I want to look back on my career knowing I maximized every opportunity I had. What do you want to look back on, and have filled the time with?

Until next time…we are Advoco, make every minute count.

About Graham: Graham Moseley is a Program Manager at Advoco, and works as the Project Manager on larger EAM implementation projects. Before working with Advoco, Graham worked in corporate strategy and mergers and acquisitions. When he isn’t in the office, you can find Graham skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and chasing his 2-year old daughter. Have a question? Send Graham an email!