“I Almost Didn’t Go Outside That Day…but I’m glad I did…”
I was halfway through writing an email that didn’t really matter, staring at my laptop for no reason. My daughter was yelling something from the backyard. My wife was calling my name, but I heard it the way you hear a song playing in another room, soft and distant.
I was about to say, “Just five more minutes.” But something made me get up this time. Maybe guilt. Maybe instinct. Maybe the silence that creeps in when you know you’ve been absent, even when you’re technically present.
Right there, in our backyard, was our barely used pool. It was mostly just cleaned, maintained, and admired from behind the glass door. The same above-ground setup we’ve had for years. But that day… it felt different. The kids were already in, laughing and splashing around. My wife had her sunglasses on, lounging nearby, like she’d finally exhaled after a long week.
“Get in,” my daughter said. It wasn’t even a question, more like an order. I looked down at my jeans, and just like that, fully clothed, I jumped in without thinking twice.
There’s something strange about playing in water when you’re not a kid anymore. First, your body feels stiff, like it forgets how to have fun. But give it ten minutes and a splash on the face, and you start to remember.
My daughter was making up pool games and challenges on the spot, keeping all of us entertained. Her rules made no sense, but we were allfollowing along. My son, who usually avoids sunlight, was sitting on the steps with his feet in the water, actually smiling.
My wife handed me a drink from this floaty tray thing she picked up online, absurdly unnecessary, and somehow… perfect. The flamingo was half-deflated but still proudly drifting like it owned the pool.
That’s the part that hit me. Not one of us.
No scrolling. No half-hearted nods while checking emails. Just bare feet on warm concrete, wet hair, sunlight bouncing off the water, and for once, no one was in a hurry to leave.
We didn’t plan it like this. No one said, “Let’s have a family day.” It just… happened.
And it was better that way.
We didn’t go anywhere fancy. We just stepped outside, with no distractions or expectations. Just the 4 of us – together, in the water. I think we only got out when the air turned cooler and someone finally said, “Okay, I’m starving.”
That night, the kid’s went to bed a little earlier than usual. As I turned off the patio lights, I looked back at the pool. It was still, quiet, and almost glowing. My wife turned to me and said, “See? That’s all I wanted.”
That is when I realized: We didn’t need more time. We just need to use the time we already have. And maybe.. we’ll start doing that more often.
It wasn’t just about the pool. It was about the connection. The reminder that I still know how to laugh with my kids, how to sit still beside my wife, how to be here, in the present.
So, this isn’t really a blog post. It’s a small reminder to myself, to hold onto days like this. To make more of them.
Don’t wait for the big vacation.
Don’t wait until work slows down.
Don’t wait until you’ve “caught up” on everything, because honestly, you probably won’t.
Just go outside. Jump in. Even if you’re wearing jeans.
If this resonates, feel free to steal the idea. https://www.poolshop.com/ has the little things that make days like this… possible.
But showing up? That part’s on you. I’m glad I did.