A couple of years ago, a lawyer friend died suddenly scuba diving in Mexico. She was barely 60, newly married, happy. She was so vibrant and funny. Then dead. It was awful, and inspirational. It shoved me 10 steps forward into the direction I was already going – toward balance and change.
I’ve been looking for balance for a long time and failing to find it, failing, failing. Lawyering doesn’t want to be part-time. I feel like a programmed robot to just work, work, work. You too?
Why does our culture celebrate this? Is it really a badge of honor to say “I haven’t taken a day off in two weeks”? Why do people say this with pride? It’s so stupid.
I started taking Fridays off – not enough. I want to travel more (a lot!), see more, do more, live more. I only get one life. . .why don’t I really LIVE IT!? The answer: retire. Stop working, wind it down. That was 2 years ago, and I’m almost there – unwound.
Thanks, Lori, for the inspiration. As Buddha said, “The trouble is, you think you’ve got time.” But sometimes you don’t.
