“Family matters,” a friend once said—and I felt the same. Every time I need them to be present for an important occasion, they are just one call away. I only need to tell them what the moment is, and they will surely make time despite their busy schedules. Of course, it works both ways. When they need me, I’m also just one message away. I will make sure to be there.
Why do I do that?
Because they are important to me, just as I am regarded as important to them. When something—or someone—matters enough, we don’t wait for perfect conditions. We look for openings. We rearrange plans. We make room. That simple.
Our presence often depends on the degree of importance we assign. Time, in that sense, is rarely about availability; it is about priority. We may say we are busy, overwhelmed, or exhausted, but when something truly matters, time seems to stretch. Even in the smallest gaps, we find a way.
This is why absence sometimes hurts more than words. It quietly tells us where we stand. Not always out of malice, but often out of unspoken choices. And yet, this realization can also be freeing. It teaches us to be honest—both with others and with ourselves—about what we value.
In the end, importance is not declared through grand statements, but through simple acts of presence. Showing up. Calling back. Making time. Because when it’s important enough, there is always ample time.