My niece goes to a sleep-away camp with two visiting days. Last year, her parents didn’t go for the second visiting day because she was coming home the next day. I had told my sister that I would have gone to visit her.
So this year, that’s what I did.
Some skeptics wondered why I would drive two hours to see her if she was coming home the next day. It seemed to them like a waste of energy and time.
It didn’t feel like that to me.
Nobody likes to be alone on visiting day. Even if they’re going home the next day, in the moment when everyone else’s family is visiting, it can feel lonely if you’re the only one whose family didn’t come. Why make my niece feel that way?
For me, this didn’t feel like a chore. It was something I get to do.
Her camp has circus activities, like flying trapeze and silks — activities which I’ve done for decades. I was excited to see her perform.
We had a great day.
As I drove back, I thought about the skeptics who asked why I’d go visit her when she’s coming home the next day. Here are three reasons:
(1) Nurture Connection
I got to have a great day with my niece that was just the two of us. As she showed me around, we had uninterrupted conversations. We bonded over our shared love of circus activities. We had magic moments.
(2) Create Memories
Years from now, my niece will remember that I came to visit her in camp. And I’ll also remember. We never know how long we have on this earth. When offered the chance to make a memory, don’t turn it down.
(3) The Best Gift
The best gifts don’t come in boxes. As I’ve said before, the ultimate present is your presence. But today wasn’t just about the gift I gave my niece by showing up to visit her. It was also about what I received. Spending the day with my niece at her camp filled me up. Although I was exhausted by the time I got back, it was the best kind of fatigue — the fatigue that you get from a full day that energized you rather than depleted you.
Some things are more valuable then time.
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