Restoration Wellness, LLC

I frequently engage in heartfelt conversations with my clients about the challenges of time management and setting priorities. When I kindly request to see their calendars, it helps illuminate their true priorities. I say, “Show me your calendar and I will show you your priorities.” However, this process can sometimes unearth buried grief that requires attention and healing. We often hear the phrase, “I don’t have time to do… (you fill in the blank),” but what does this really signify from both a subjective and objective mind frame?

Let’s just rip the bandage off:
“I don’t have time” almost always means “It’s not a priority.”

Not enough time to stretch? It’s not a priority.
Not enough time to prep meals? Not a priority.
Not enough time to check in, show up, or return a call? You guessed it—not a priority.

It’s not shameful. It’s clarifying.

We all do this. We use “I don’t have time” to soften the blow, to avoid confrontation, or to escape the guilt of not showing up for something (or someone). It makes us feel better about the imbalance in our lives. But rephrasing it honestly can bring a gut-check that helps us realign with what truly matters.

Try saying this out loud:

• “Fueling my body well isn’t a priority today.”
• “Stretching and caring for my body isn’t a priority right now.”
• “Connecting with God isn’t a priority this morning.”

Ouch? Good. That discomfort is the beginning of awareness.

But then there’s the other side of this…

When You’re the One They Don’t “Have Time” For

What happens when you’re the one being told, in subtle or not-so-subtle ways, that you’re not the priority?

That missed call. That unread message. That never-initiated check-in. That constant “I’m just so busy” when you’re barely holding your world together.

Let’s be honest—it hurts. And for good reason.

Because whether they say it out loud or not, the message is clear:
“You are not as important as what I’m doing right now.”

Now, hear me:
It doesn’t always mean they don’t love you.
It might mean they’re drowning in their own mess.
It might mean they’re stuck in survival mode or pulled by louder demands.

But it also might mean—they don’t know how to show up for you. Or worse, they’ve stopped trying.

That’s when we move from momentary neglect to a soul-level wound.

How to Process That Pain

Instead of stuffing it down or spinning into bitterness, face it with truth and grace:

1. Name what you feel – Rejection? Neglect? Loneliness? Call it what it is. Don’t gaslight yourself out of your own emotions.
2. Examine the pattern – Is this a one-time lapse, or is it a consistent message you’re receiving?
3. Create boundaries, not walls – If you’re always the afterthought, it’s okay to shift access. You’re not petty. You’re protecting your peace.
4. Speak the truth in love – “When I hear ‘I don’t have time,’ it feels like I’m not a priority. That hurts.” That’s vulnerable. That’s brave. That’s powerful.

Try this journaling activity on your own time.

Here’s the Redemptive Truth

Even when people fail you—Jesus never does.
He doesn’t pencil you in. He doesn’t forget.
He doesn’t answer with “maybe tomorrow.”

His presence is not based on your performance.
You’re not an inconvenience. You’re not too much. You’re not too late.
You are His beloved, and you are always His priority.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
—Psalm 34:18

So, if you’re feeling crushed by someone’s absence today, know this:
Their failure to prioritize you does not reflect your worth.

You’re allowed to grieve it.
You’re allowed to reframe it.
And you’re absolutely allowed to choose differently for yourself moving forward.

Ready to Recenter?

If reading this stirred something in you—if old wounds surfaced, or current ones were named—please know you don’t have to process it all alone.

Sometimes what we need isn’t more time… it’s more alignment. Bach Flower Balancing Sessions gently support emotional clarity, peace, and inner strength—without forcing or fixing. Just flow and healing. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, neglected, or disconnected, this is a safe space to realign with peace and purpose.

If you’re craving that shift, I invite you to book a session with me. Let’s bring your heart back into balance.

Click here to schedule your session

You truly deserve to be a top priority. Let’s make a strong balanced start, with you!