Pick up any self-help book on discovering your inner self, read any blog archive on the pursuit of happiness, research any tip on career satisfaction, engage in at least one chat about the purpose of life, and you will no doubt encounter at least one mention about the key to happiness and success being in doing what you love to do.  There must be something innate in us that predisposes us to loving to do certain things.  Do anything else, and it’s no wonder we are losing our minds so unhappy and unfulfilled.  It’s no wonder we turn to alcoholism, over-eating, and anti-depression medication.

If this is your first time visiting this blog, you may be nosy curious enough to click on the About Me page and find that I am an attorney.  You may even ask yourself, “Why in the world is this attorney wasting time blogging about family life?”  Well, I think that’s a valid question.  But, for me the more valid question would be, “Why is this wonderfully creative artist, writer, and blogger, an attorney?”

Did I lose you there?

Do you find it surprising that after six years of undergrad (I worked full-time), two years of grad, three years of law school, three days of the Texas bar, all kinds of career experiences, networking resources, and impeccable references that I would rather blog?  (This is not bragging, folks.  I’m making a point here.)  You’re right.  That does sound absurd.  But, it’s the truth.  I’m sure it wouldn’t help my argument if I mentioned that I certainly make more money as an attorney than I do blogging.  And, with over $100,000 in student loans, money should probably be more of a priority.  Right?

Would it matter to you if I said that I LOVE doing this?  Would it matter if I told you that this is the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done?  What about if I said that this has always been a dream of mine…and that whenever someone asked what I wanted to do, I would always throw in that I was an artist and I wanted to be a writer on top of whatever else I said?  And, what if I said that happiness (which, mostly means being with my family) is more important to me than money?

As a blogger and freelance writer, I get to be at home with my daughter and do what I love to do.  It doesn’t get any better than that.  I can still take the legal cases that I want and turn down the rest that seem to be more hassle than they are worth.  Don’t get me wrong, I may do full-time legal work in the future when my child[ren] are in school, but I won’t neglect my first love of writing.

I’ve also learned that if you do what you love, you will be good at it and the money will come.  What’s better?  If you’re happy, it’s contagious.  You will share your happiness with everyone around you.  Happy you… happy family… happy community.

Don’t get it confused.  I wouldn’t trade my journey to this point for anything in the world.  I draw upon my experiences when I write and I didn’t become a starving artist (just a starving student, at times).  I felt it was better to perfect the day craft, learn some transferable skills, pour my time, energy, and money into my hobby, and wha-lah!  It would all work out one day.  So, no regrets…except I wish I had been a little smarter to get more scholarship money…but anywho….

So, I ask you to take inventory of where you are, what you are doing, and who you are.  Are you happy with it?  Would you rather do something else?  Are you doing what you love to do?

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