What Matters Most

By John Millen

As the year comes to a close, I find myself slowing down and reflecting. Not just on what got done or what didn’t but on what actually mattered along the way.

The holidays have a way of creating that pause. They invite us to step back from the noise and the pace and notice something we too often overlook during the year: life is not defined by how busy we are or how much we accomplish.

It’s defined by the moments we share with the people we care about.

Relationships are the real constant

So much of life changes. Work evolves. Plans shift. Goals get revised. But the people in our lives remain the throughline.

Time spent with family and friends grounds us. A long conversation. A shared laugh. Sitting together without an agenda.

These moments remind us who we are beyond our roles and responsibilities. Without them, even our biggest achievements can feel oddly empty.

The holidays don’t create connection. They simply make it easier to see the importance of these special moments.

The power of ordinary moments

When I look back on the years that have passed, it’s rarely the major milestones that stand out most clearly.

It’s the ordinary moments. Meals around the table. Traditions repeated without much thought. Time spent together doing very little.

In the moment, these experiences don’t feel significant. They’re easy to rush through or take for granted.

But over time, they become the memories that stay with us. They’re the ones we return to.

The end of the year is a reminder that what feels ordinary today may be what we value most tomorrow.

A reminder to carry forward

The challenge is not appreciating connection during the holidays but remembering its importance throughout the year.

It’s easy to let work and obligations crowd out time with the people we love. There’s always something to do and somewhere to be.

But none of it matters much without the relationships that give it meaning.

As a new year approaches, I’m reminded that being present is a choice. So is making time. So is protecting space for the people who matter most.

Quiet moments

The holidays don’t define what matters most. They remind us.

As this year comes to an end, my hope is that we all take time to enjoy the people around us.

Let’s put our screens aside to pay attention to the conversations, the laughter and the quiet moments in between.

Those moments are not a break from life. They’re the heart of it. And they’re worth holding onto not just during the holidays but all year long.