All in a Day'sWork

What I love about this blog, my Flickr groups and the online photography classes I have taken in the last 18 months is that we are all people leading different lives -- single strands joined together in a community of friends -- who have the love of photography in common. I suspect, however, that we have other things in common too. One of the threads running through each of our lives is our work. Whether we work inside or outside the home (or are lucky enough to be retired), we all have things that occupy the bulk of our day.

I was a criminal defense lawyer until six months ago. I practiced law for 19 years and loved almost every minute of it. I knew I wanted to be a lawyer when I graduated from high school. I completed my undergrad degree at Houghton College in New York State and did my law degree at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. My career was very important to me. I worked hard to develop a reputation as an excellent lawyer. When my daughter was born 16 years ago, I took only four weeks off (six if you count Christmas holidays) before going back to work. I was able to do that because my then husband worked from home as a writer, but I know down deep in my  heart that I would have found a way to get back to my career as quickly as possible, even if  he wasn't able to stay home and raise her. It's just the way I'm wired. I loved the thrill of a trial (even when I lost -- but especially when I won) and the academic challenge of an appeal. I loved doing a great cross-examination. I loved negotiating the best deal for my clients. I loved the people I worked with . . .  office staff, prosecutors, police (especially the one who became my new partner), and other defense lawyers. I even loved wearing the robes we are required to wear in some courts here in Ontario, Canada (see photo above).

It was, however, a 24/7 vocation. Clients would call at all hours of the day and night. My Blackberry went with me on vacation. My daughter and I would do homework together most nights -- she did hers and I did my prep for the next day's trial or guilty plea or bail hearing. Don't get me wrong . . . I'm not a workaholic (and I'm not complaining) . . . I'm as lazy as I am industrious. It's just the nature of the legal profession -- there was always more work to do.

Now I'm a judge, and I wear different robes. They come with a red sash. My role in the criminal justice system has changed but  my passion and love for my work has not. One of the best things about my new job is that I have time to develop other passions . . . like sketching and painting and photography! Now I am working hard to bring balance to my days. I spend time with my daughter and partner without my job interfering. I read and scrapbook and hike without feeling guilty about not spending that time on work. This new opportunity has been a real blessing for me and my family. It came at the perfect time too -- just as my partner retired after 30 years as a police officer and my daughter considers which university to attend after her senior year.

I don't regret the long hours of hard work. I wouldn't be a judge if I hadn't put in those hours. It was my choice. I was happy -- but I am happier now. I sometimes wonder what my days would have been like if I chose a different career or if I chose to work as a full-time parent or if I was retired. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world at this stage in my life to be able to explore a new career, spend more time as a parent and partner, and learn to play in preparation for retirement.

Buddha is quoted as saying, "your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it." Help us discover your world. Share with us what you have given yourself to doing. We would love to see photos of the details of your work. What requires your focus each day? What has captured your heart?


Today's guest post is by Jeanine Leroy.  We got to know her in many of Tracey Clark's Picture classes and she is now a member of Prompt Addicts and a faithful follower of Focusing on Life.  She and  her daughter blogged together last year at Thirty Years Apart and you can follow her on Flickr. Thanks so much, Jeanine, for being our guest!