30 Years, A Wrong Turn, And A Few Hours to Make It Right

Reflections on Time, Regret, and Showing Up

by Joshua Routh

I just returned from speaking at this year’s South Dakota State SHRM Conference. The theme was: “So Much HR, So Little Time.”

A clever nod to the daily whirlwind HR professionals live in—but for me, it echoed something deeper the moment I saw it. Time. How much of it we waste. How little of it we think we have. How we think of it as capital. And how we sometimes let moments slip away, never knowing if we’ll get the chance to return.

Heading to South Dakota in particular took me back to 1995. That year I had a gig at the Mt. Rushmore Mall in Rapid City. During a break, the crew decided to drive 30 minutes up to Mt. Rushmore then get dinner and see the town. But me, I stayed in the hotel and got loaded. I had no desire to do much else.

This wasn't me at peak addiction, but it was getting close. It was when I started consistently choosing drugs and alcohol over everything else. Over experiences. Over relationships. Over myself.

I wouldn't get clean for a few more years and had a lot of messes still to make.

Now, nearly30 years later, I found myself flying back into Rapid City—this time as a professional speaker, sober, and at a major state conference. As the plane descended, I couldn’t stop thinking about that moment I missed. The conference was about time, and suddenly, so was I.

Would I have time to make it right?

The schedule was tight. I was due to have dinner with the conference organizers in a few hours. But the weight of that 1995 choice sat heavy. So when we landed, I grabbed a rental car, and I went for it.

Mt. Rushmore itself was cool to see. Iconic. But for me, it was much more than just a landmark—it was a symbol of a moment I’d failed to live. But this time, I was fully present. No fog. No excuses. No wasted time.

And that’s the thing about time: You can’t undo it. But sometimes—if you’re lucky—you get the chance to redeem it.

The next day, I stood on stage delivering myComplaint Free Workplacekeynote to a room full of engaged, inspiring HR leaders. The mayor of Rapid City called me, "a rock star". I laughed. Because back in 1995, I thought I was living the rock star life. Turns out,thisis what that actually looks like.

I have to say, the town of Rapid City blew me away. Incredible people. Every U.S. president cast in bronze throughout downtown. The city has a stunning commitment to public art and culture. And a kindness in the air that made me feel welcomed—and seen.

27 years sober this May. 30 years since I missed that moment. A couple of hours to make it right.

And right now? I’m grateful for every second.

Keep living to the hilt,

-JR