This summer I had the chance to spend a good amount of time with my sons, my family and friends. I realize that, as I age, the quality of my relationships matter much more to me and I intentionally seek to invest more energy into those.

I am guilty of sacrificing the social connections in my life in favor of work, career and financial rewards for many years. Those matter less now. Perhaps because I have achieved a modicum of career and financial success and there is less drive, but also because priorities change as I age.

The interesting thing is that we can buy cars and houses to impress others and gain some social standing from it, but it’s all artificial and fleeting. The things that really matter in life, such as a strong social network, a healthy body and a calm mind, cannot be bought. They have to be earned and require continuous investment.

So, a today’s reflection: are you investing your time and energy in the right things? And if not, what are you going to do about it?