Well-Lived.
This article is part of Finding the Words, a newsletter that delivers practical insights on the day’s issues.
Beth Parker was a general assignment reporter for Washington, DC’s Fox affiliate, WTTG. She was a creative and funny storyteller with an insatiable curiosity about people and life. For over 20 years, she introduced her morning news viewers to the very best of the DC region.
Over the course of a decade, I would pitch Beth stories any chance I’d get, knowing that not only would she produce an incredible and heartwarming piece for morning television, but that I’d get to bask in the glow of her brilliance—and her infectious laugh—along the way.
As a natural storyteller, Beth had a way with words that extended to every bit of her life—including her out-of-office messages. When Beth went on vacation, she would use those automatic replies to do what she did best: draw you into a story and invite you to come along with her.
On one such occasion, during a special national parks adventure, she included her itinerary so we could follow her travels and an interactive map to plot and plan our own trip to a national park.
There was just something different in how she communicated about her time in the office and her time away from it.
Before meeting Beth, I used to think out-of-office messages were unnecessary. I believed I should always be reachable and always available. With that limiting belief, I would step away from a birthday dinner to take a call. I would hang back from vacation experiences to send a pressing email from the hotel. I would make myself available anytime and from anywhere, often missing out on the most important moments happening right in front of me.
In 2021, Beth passed away after a battle with cancer. She was only 51 years old. A life well-lived and life too short.
As each day passes, I realize more what she inherently knew: that our time is precious, and what we do with every day matters.
So, when I’m preparing for time out of the office, I give a bit of extra care to how I communicate. It’s one of the little ways I honor Beth’s life, as I did in my out-of-office message from last week:
Hi there, and thanks for your email. It's the official start of summer break, and I'm away from my computer, reliving some favorite childhood memories with my children. I'll check email sporadically this week, so if your message is urgent, you can expect to hear from me in the next day or so. Otherwise, I look forward to reconnecting with you when I return on Monday, June 26th.
Turns out, I can still communicate that I’m available if you need me. But I can also share that it’s OK to take time off. Actually, it’s more than OK: it’s important, welcome, and good for us all.
It’s easy to believe that work is what defines us. But sometimes the best thing we can do for our work is to turn it all off: to find a park, to re-live some memories, and to build a life well-lived, as Beth Parker did.
Bottom line: How we communicate, even in small moments, can impact how others view and understand what is possible for themselves. Beth did this for me. So, next time you’re planning some time away, consider how you'll communicate it. An out-of-office message might seem like a small gesture, but it is a great opportunity to reinforce your values: what you stand for, whom you prioritize, and what you live for.
PS: if you’re wondering what I did last week, I traveled with my daughters back to the beach where I spent my childhood summers. We met up with cousins. We walked the boardwalk in the rain, we ate oversized slices of NJ pizza, played skeeball, and rode the merry-go-round. Sure, I checked in as needed, but I was out of the office, and I like to think Beth was with me.
Want to bask in the glow of Beth Parker, too? See for yourself this special human in this remembrance of her life.
This post is part of the Finding The Words column, a series published every Wednesday that delivers a dose of communication insights direct to your inbox. If you like what you read, we hope you’ll subscribe to ensure you receive this each week.
