Family is Always First

I had a dilemma this morning. There were two events going on that I needed to be at: a Nix family reunion and a pride volunteer orientation meeting. Being a member of the Nix family, I needed to be at the family reunion. Being the volunteer coordinator, I needed to be at the volunteer orientation.

I vacillated between trying to attend both events or just one. Most of my dilemma was actually implementing a rule I've made for myself: Family comes first. Throughout my life, I want nothing to come before my family. I've often imagined myself in the future missing important meetings for my son's soccer games or quitting a job because it wasn't conducive to my familial commitments. I never want to be that guy who spends more time at work than with his family.

It was important that I be at the Pride meeting, but it was more important to be at my family reunion. I knew that if I went to the Pride meeting, it would start a precedent of putting other things before my family. I just couldn't do it.