On the 3-year anniversary of losing my dad, my professional advice is: take the trip.
In 2015, my dad called me during the work day (a rare occurrence) to ask if I wanted to come crew his upcoming 100-miler. It was a last minute request, and I was nervous about asking to take 2 days off on such short notice.
Luckily my (amazing) boss told me it was no problem, and it would probably be a great father-daughter bonding experience, so I shouldn’t worry and just take the trip.
He was right! The trip was memorable and something I was grateful I got to be a part of, especially after he died so unexpectedly. It reinforced for me that you aren’t promised tomorrow, so it’s important to take advantage of opportunities to spend time with your loved ones and not get so wrapped up in “the grind” that you miss out.
Yes, work is important, but unless you’re going to have to reschedule life-saving surgery for someone…just take the trip.
Sara Morrison 