“Just a Minute” — The Invisible Cost of “Later”

A moment to connect

We’ve all said it.“Just a minute.”

To our children. To our partners. To ourselves.

“I’ll get to that in just a minute…”

It feels harmless, reasonable, it's a delay, not a dismissal, a pause, not a no.

But too often, that minute never comes. It disappears into the busyness, buried beneath to-do lists, texts, emails, and endless distractions.

What we intended as a brief delay quietly becomes a missed opportunity:

• The drawing they wanted to show you gets tucked away.

• The story they were excited to tell fades.

• The walk you promised yourself becomes tomorrow’s intention.

And without realizing it, we begin teaching ourselves and those around us that the present moment isn’t a priority.

The Accidental Dismissal

Maybe your child came running with a drawing they were proud of. Maybe your partner wanted to share a thought while you were answering emails. Maybe you told yourself you'd finally take that walk, open that journal, or breathe deeply, in just a minute.

But that minute didn’t arrive. Something else always did first.

And over time, a quiet shift begins.

• Your child stops showing you their art.

• Your partner grows quieter.

• You stop making space for yourself.

It doesn’t happen at once, it happens over time, over each minute that passes.

When the Tables Turn

Then, one day, the roles reverse.

The child who once tugged at your sleeve is now a teen, glued to a screen. The partner who once lingered to chat now finishes dinner in silence. The version of you who once dreamed and planned? Just… tired.

Now you’re the one asking:“Can we talk?” “Do you have a minute?”

And you hear it, softly, without malice: “Just a minute.”

This isn’t about guilt. This is about awareness. Because the only moment we truly own is the one we’re in right now.

Mindfulness Is a Choice—Every Time

Mindfulness is built in small, ordinary moments:

• When you close the laptop and sit with your child for five uninterrupted minutes.

• When you look your partner in the eyes and truly listen, with full intent.

• When you honor your own needs, your breath, your rest, your heart, without pushing them aside.

These aren’t dramatic acts. They’re quiet revolutions. And they change everything. These moments create connections.

A Gentle Reminder

You don’t need to overhaul your life. You don’t need more hours in the day.

You simply need to value the minute you have right now.

When you choose presence, you create a connection. A connection with yourself and the world around you.

The next time you catch yourself saying “just a minute,” pause…and ask yourself:

What would happen if I chose now instead?