The Cross-Country Loop: Why Family and Fellowship is a Priority in 2026

If I learned anything from my year on autopilot, it was that relationships do not maintain themselves. We often tell ourselves that we are too busy or that a text message is enough to keep a connection alive. Last week, I decided to test that theory by getting behind the wheel. I took a road trip from Denver to St. Louis, then up to Chicago, over to Cleveland, and finally back home to Denver.



At the very center of this trip, and my life in general, is my wife. She is my top priority. Whether we are navigating a cross country drive or the complexities of a forty year career, she is the person I check in with first. I recognize that not everyone has a spouse, but everyone needs an anchor. Whether your primary person is a partner, a best friend, or a close family member, that relationship requires the most intentionality. It is the foundation upon which everything else is built.

The goal of this road trip was simple: see my family. It had been far too long since I had been able to sit across the table from them. I was only in each city for a couple of days. I had to work around school schedules and the normal chaos of daily life. It was not a grand, weeks long vacation, and it did not require a massive budget. It simply required the decision to show up for the people who share my history.

We talk a lot about networking in the professional world. We collect contacts and business cards, but those are rarely the people who show up for you when life gets difficult. True fellowship starts with family. During this trip, I was reminded that family and long term friends are the stakeholders who truly matter.

Everyone is navigating their own unique set of life events and perspectives. My family members are in different stages of life than I am, and listening to their stories gave me a fresh outlook. When we stay connected, we create a safety net. You become the person they can lean on, and in return, you have a group of people who can offer you a different point of view when you are facing a tough decision at work or in your personal life.

One of the biggest misconceptions about being intentional with family is that it has to be a major production. This trip proved the opposite. The value was found in the small moments between school events and evening meals. It was in the conversations that happen only when you are physically in the room together.



If you are navigating your first job or a new leadership role, you might feel like you have to sacrifice these family connections to get ahead. I am telling you from forty years of experience that the opposite is true. Your ability to perform well at work is often tied to the stability and love you find in your family and friends.

As you look at your own schedule for 2026, ask yourself who in your family has been on the back burner. You do not necessarily need to drive 2,800 miles, but you do need to be intentional. Every minute counts. Family and Fellowship is the first of my 7 Fs because it is the foundation. Without a strong support network, the other areas of life become much harder to manage.

For more stories on leadership and life strategy, check out my Instagram @myfriendsdad. I would love to hear how you are making time for your inner circle this year.