Forget Your Scarf

This morning, we all returned from India back to what I call home. Kuala Lumpur. My sons and the newest member of our family, my daughter-in-law, are with us. They will spend a couple of days here, and then they all fly back to their own lives.

As I was thinking about what to write today, I came across a James Clear newsletter in which he references a passage by the poet Mikko Harvey.

“The number of hours we have together is actually not so large. Please linger near the door uncomfortably instead of just leaving. Please forget your scarf in my life and come back later for it.”

I read it twice.

Two weeks with the people I love went past in a moment. And in a couple of days, the house will be quiet again.

The chapters of life go fast. The hours are fewer than we think.

So linger. Delay the goodbyes. Leave something behind.

Give people a reason to return.