It has been a big week for me! Slide UX celebrated our 11th anniversary, my parents celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary, and America celebrated 247 years of independence.

These milestones got me thinking about the small events that lead us to where we are.

As I kid, I spent many afternoons on the small patio at my parents house. I would play with mulch and rocks, and listen as my mom talked with other teachers (often neighbors) about what was going on around town or at school. My mom has a knack for effortlessly forming deep, lasting relationships with women who could mentor her.

Fast forward to my mid-twenties. I had become friends with a woman I worked with. She had kids, probably between 5 and 10 years old then. Chatting with her about life was intriguing because she had experience and insight that I didn't, on just about everything.

At the time, I was curious about freelancing but I knew I'd someday have kids. It seemed too scary to give up corporate benefits and face an unpaid maternity period, so I'd written it off. On a walk to lunch one day, she pointed out that I could simply save up for the period I would be out of work.

That passing conversation truly changed my life. Her perspective is the ONLY reason I was later open to a contract role, which opened the door to freelancing and ultimately, the start of Slide UX.

Now, many of us work remotely, with colleagues are distributed all over the country or world. It has huge benefits, but also some drawbacks. It's easier than it used to be to hole up in our homes and keep professional contacts at arm’s length.

For the sake of your own life and your own career, I encourage you to blur that line a little bit. Invest a bit of yourself in your relationships with people you meet at work. Share a bit about yourself, laugh a little with your colleagues, learn about their lives, and make time to connect one-on-one. You never know how it might change your life.