Post by justfoundthisboard on Mar 2, 2008 15:16:02 GMT -5
Propmaster's last post made me decide to say this.
Yesterday I found out that one of my closest friends died on Tuesday. We've known each other over 30 years. We worked together on Capitol Hill, then we both decided to go to law school. After graduation, she decided to become a government attorney. She devoted her entire life to it - literally and figuratively. Last year she received a Presidential Award for her work. She was an expert in her field. Eighty hour weeks were the norm. We had a ballet subscription to the Kennedy Center for the last 20 years and she missed at least 3 performances each season (at $100 a pop) because of work.
She could have retired in October - 30 years, turned 55. But she didn't. Work was everything to her.
She had an annual physical last year. Nothing wrong. Healthy. She had quit smoking years ago. But they found a spot. After painful surgery, chemo, and radiation, they said they'd got it all. But they were wrong.
She was 55.
Work is not everything. If you are chained to your desk, something is wrong. Go out and do something. Get a hobby. Twenty years ago I left a job that I loved, where I worked 7 days a week. One Sunday, in the summer, I decided to play softball. When I arrived at work at 3 that day, the General Counsel chastised me for being late. I decided I had to go. I got a desk job. No travel. No more litigation. Kind of boring, so I joined a bunch of activities. Met my husband, fell in love and got married. We have a beautiful daughter who is now 11. Our lives are great. Our work is good. I am thrilled that I'm becoming an SSA ALJ and that my family wants to join me in this new adventure. But if they had said "no," it would be OK. Because my life is not my job. Life is too short.
Yesterday I found out that one of my closest friends died on Tuesday. We've known each other over 30 years. We worked together on Capitol Hill, then we both decided to go to law school. After graduation, she decided to become a government attorney. She devoted her entire life to it - literally and figuratively. Last year she received a Presidential Award for her work. She was an expert in her field. Eighty hour weeks were the norm. We had a ballet subscription to the Kennedy Center for the last 20 years and she missed at least 3 performances each season (at $100 a pop) because of work.
She could have retired in October - 30 years, turned 55. But she didn't. Work was everything to her.
She had an annual physical last year. Nothing wrong. Healthy. She had quit smoking years ago. But they found a spot. After painful surgery, chemo, and radiation, they said they'd got it all. But they were wrong.
She was 55.
Work is not everything. If you are chained to your desk, something is wrong. Go out and do something. Get a hobby. Twenty years ago I left a job that I loved, where I worked 7 days a week. One Sunday, in the summer, I decided to play softball. When I arrived at work at 3 that day, the General Counsel chastised me for being late. I decided I had to go. I got a desk job. No travel. No more litigation. Kind of boring, so I joined a bunch of activities. Met my husband, fell in love and got married. We have a beautiful daughter who is now 11. Our lives are great. Our work is good. I am thrilled that I'm becoming an SSA ALJ and that my family wants to join me in this new adventure. But if they had said "no," it would be OK. Because my life is not my job. Life is too short.
