Back in April of 1996, I wrote a column entitled "Do You Pause Enough In Life?" More people, to this day, comment on that column than any other piece I have written. Some readers have it posted on their refrigerator while others tell me they carry it in a brief case back and forth to work. It is also the column I most often copy and mail to friends who might benefit from the thoughts.

Since some of my readers may not remember the column or might like to read it again, I will repeat most of it here.

Most people, I believe, never pause enough for the important things in life. We lead busy lives, and the rush to keep up is very often like being on a treadmill. We keep running and running. But, do we ever arrive? Getting to the office and staying late, playing that must round of golf, rushing to the store to shop, and failing to take a much needed family vacation are all too much a part of too many lives.

Writing this column reminded me of the poignant Harry Chapin song, Cats In The Cradle. In that Chapin piece, the father is too busy to respond to the repeated needs of his son, always putting off involvement to a later time -- not from any lack of love, but just from being too busy. In the end, the son picks up where the father left off -- the son doesn't have time for the father, because he is too involved with his own life.

Often, children or a spouse will silently cry out for us to pause, and we do not hear. We are too busy pursuing what seems to be important in life. Birdies on the golf course take on more of an importance than sitting in the backyard with a loved one on a summer's evening listening for the sounds of a cricket.

And then there is the important business meeting which might propel us to the next level of management or help put us in a more financially secure position. We cannot pause, because there is always the next meeting or client to see with the soccer game or baseball game involving a child or grandchild placed in second position. I can tell you that the business deals will continue, but that child will never be 12 again. Without pausing, you will never see him or her score a first goal or participate in the first double play. Those days can never be repeated.

Putting off vacations is another way many of us have failed to pause. There are always excuses. What would any firm or business do without our presence. The company might even learn that we are expendable. There is often too much on our plates for us to leave -- just at this time. The result is that vacations are postponed or never taken.

The failure to pause in life takes its toll. When a loved one is stricken with an illness or dies, we then reflect on the multitude of times we have failed to pause. I should know about not pausing enough, because when I first wrote this column it was really about me.

Lately, I have been pausing on a regular basis. I am making up for missed vacations and even taking the time to read more. The law business continues to flourish, and I am a more relaxed person. It does work. Take the time to pause in your life.

By the way, as you read this, my wife and I are in Greece on vacation.