This weekend, I went to my business school’s ten-year reunion. Hard to believe it’s been that long since we laid out on the lawn at Columbia University with our diplomas, breathing a collective sigh of relief. At graduation, I had a five-month-old baby in my lap (Working full-time and attending business school on weekends while pregnant certainly builds stamina). I had mixed feelings about attending this reunion. Plenty of reasons not to go—yet somehow, I kept finding solutions:
- Logistics: My husband was away but a nearby grandpa thankfully stepped in.
- Timing: A Saturday night baseball game would delay my departure—until the rain canceled it.
- Accommodations: I hesitated to spring for a hotel—until a generous classmate offered her hotel points.
- Obligations: My son had a soccer game early Sunday (I coach)—but Amtrak’s 7:15am train came to the rescue.
- Wallet: Left it on the train. Thank you, Apple Pay.
- Social nerves: The group chat confirmed familiar faces were making the trek too.
So away I went. I was tired and a bit anxious. Even though I love people, I don’t socialize the way I used to (fueled by cocktails). But I arrived with an open mind and heart, determined to make the most of it.
Seeing my friend Mary at the start was the energy boost I needed. We had five kids between us and many years to catch up on. We hopped the subway to a loft in Tribeca where sushi awaited. Ten minutes in, old friends started appearing and with each, a little spark. That vibrant energy reminded me how powerful it is to reconnect.
I had built up so much resistance to going and yet, in those four hours, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
Takeaways for anyone on the fence about reconnecting:
- Don’t let logistics make the decision for you. Solutions often appear if you stay open.
- We’re rarely as “ready” as we think we need to be—but showing up matters more than being polished.
- Reunions aren’t just about nostalgia—they’re about energy, reflection, and grounding yourself in how far you’ve come.
- You never regret investing in a real connection.
