The Time Machine Effect
Many people take magical moments in their lives for granted every single day. While I am not perfect, I have discovered a way to make the most of these interactions as often as possible.
The Realization That Changed Everything
A few years ago, when my boys were 10 and 7, we had a nightly bedtime routine. My wife and I would take turns lying beside them, helping them settle into sleep. Those snuggles were magical—their small bodies curled against mine, their hair still damp from the bath, smelling of shampoo.
Yet most nights, I caught myself watching the clock. Just fall asleep already so I can go watch our show... connect with my wife... return that client email…
Then, one evening, a thought stopped me cold: Soon, my 10-year-old wouldn't want—or need—his dad lying beside him anymore. And here I was, treating these fleeting moments as an inconvenience.
I tried reminding myself to be present, but it felt forced until I stumbled upon a mental exercise that changed everything.
The Time Machine Effect
I imagined myself 25 years in the future. A company had invented a time machine that could send me back to relive a single moment from my past. Just one experience, exactly as it happened.
"How much would you pay," they asked me, "to go back and experience one more bedtime with your 10-year-old son?"
Before I could answer, they named their price: $50,000.
The truth? I would have emptied my retirement account. I would have mortgaged my house. Because I knew with absolute certainty that the older version of me would give anything to feel my son's small hand in mine one more time, to hear his sleepy voice ask one more question, to watch his eyelids grow heavy as he drifted off.
That night, I stopped watching the clock and embraced this Time Machine Effect. I started treating each bedtime for what it truly was: a $50,000 moment that could never be replaced.
The Moments Keep Changing
Those bedtime snuggles have long since ended. But the $50,000 moments haven't disappeared; they've just changed form.
My oldest son is now 15, and he and I lift weights together 3-4 times a week. He doesn't speak to me for 45 of those 60 minutes, but I'm there. Those precious 15 minutes of conversation are gold. He has a dad who's present and available, so when he does have something to say, I am not hard to find.
My youngest plays travel soccer, giving us hours in the car driving to games and practices. When I remember to be fully present, we share music and have conversations I'll treasure when he's grown and gone.
A Word from My Sponsor (not really )
My ability to lean in and be fully present for many of these moments is sponsored by the fact that I know I'll be ready to work more hours once my youngest heads off to college. I'll be ready to speak on more stages and take on more opportunities to serve and work with people.
The flexibility I have built into my daily schedule is sponsored by the knowing that I have no interest in a traditional retirement. Knowing I'll work in some capacity until the day I die gives me the freedom to live differently now, to spend what might seem like "excessive" time with my boys while they're still home.
What Is the Cost of What You Are Taking for Granted?
So, I'd like to ask you: How many $50,000 moments are you taking for granted today?
Perhaps it's being present for meals, when you're all scrolling through phones instead of connecting. Or maybe it's the bedtime stories your child will soon outgrow.
Before guilt creeps in, know this isn't about making you feel bad. It's about awakening you to the wealth already surrounding you—moments that no amount of money could buy back once they're gone. My goal is to remind you of how special these moments are and how much you are going to miss them when your kids are older.
Work can wait. There will always be opportunities to make more money. But these seemingly mundane moments with your kiddos are fleeting.
Start treating these moments like the $50,000 treasures they truly are—because there probably won't be a time machine that allows you to relive them.