An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

As a kid, I didn’t always look forward to the weekly visits with my great grandmother. My sister and I would grumble about the time it took away from our summer break, and I didn’t fully understand why my mom was so insistent. But looking back now, I realize those visits were the “ounce of prevention” in a much bigger picture. The simple act of showing up with hot cocoa in hand, sitting down to ask my great grandmother about her younger days, was a small effort that became a rich and lasting connection.

My great grandmother, at 98, had a wealth of stories and wisdom, and she loved the company. She wasn’t just a person we went to visit; she was a living, breathing library of history, humor, and lessons from a life well-lived. By spending those small moments with her, we were making meaningful memories that I now cherish more than anything. My mom knew that, even when we didn’t–those visits were an investment in family, love, and time together.

The “pound of cure” came much later when, as an adult, I began to realize how precious those memories truly were. Sometimes it takes a while to see the value in the little things, but my mom was right: investing time and connecting with someone you love is never time wasted. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best things in life are the small gestures, and they can end up being the most meaningful cures to the regrets of time lost.