My colleague Nick describes his childhood in England as deeply intertwined with his church community—his father was the pastor, and he played the organ. That tight-knit community felt like family. But when he moved to the U.S. to broaden his career in chemistry, he missed his childhood connections. This emotional distance grew heavier when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. Feeling helpless from afar, everything changed when he flew home and saw her illness up close. In this episode, Nick reflects on the challenges of managing family ties across continents, and why creating meaningful connection—wherever we are—is essential to feeling rooted and whole.