Early last week, I got a call from a student of mine who’s like a little sister.
She asked if I was going to a martial arts tournament that she was competing in that weekend—and I told her I wasn’t planning on it.
She essentially put on her “puppy dog” voice and asked if I would go anyway.
…And so I did.
I booked a flight the next day, got a rental car, figured out my room and stay situation, and told myself I’d figure out the rest as I went.
…And I’m so glad I did.
Had that student not called me, I never would have gone. And I would’ve missed out on so many experiences, memories, and moments worth cherishing.
Sometimes we don’t call people to ask if they’ll go with us because we don’t want to “inconvenience them.” Or because we’re afraid they’ll say no or reject us in some way. Or because we figure if they wanted to go, they would’ve taken the initiative to make the plans themselves.
But here’s the thing: invitations are gifts.
…It’s how I genuinely feel about the invitation I was given by that student.
And by not extending invitations to people you would genuinely want to join you on a trip or to an experience or to be a part of shared moment… you’re withholding gifts to those very people.
Gifts that could very well give them something worth cherishing.