So it's been a while since I wrote a blog post...It's never too late to start again, I suppose!
A few weeks ago, I was driving back from Panama City Beach (my grandmother, some of my aunts, and my cousins were there for vacation; I hadn't seen some of them in years) and the rain was terrible on the interstate. You could barely see 100-200 feet in front of you. Being a smart(er?) driver, I drove slowly. Yet people started whizzing by 10-20 miles per hour faster. These were the same people that I had passed earlier, when there was no rain.
I've noticed on more than one occasion that people often speed up when it's raining. And it got me thinking: why do we often do irrational things when life is most dangerous? Some of what is so amazing about the human spirit is our willingness to take risks, and it may be one of the prime reasons why we came out on top of the evolutionary battle. But you'd think that most of us would be smart enough to think, "You know what, going 85 in an Escalade isn't a smart idea." But maybe that's the point: we are so used to having it all in industrialized countries that we easily forget our mortality at times. Let's not forget that we are not gods, but mere mortals. There is a time and a place to look to the stars and dream big, but let's do that when it makes sense, not when it's based on mere hubris....
To end, I'd like to finish with one of my favorite poems. It's an American poet that talks about dark and dreary days, which is appropriate for a day like today, when Tropical Storm Debby is creating quite a havoc near Tallahassee. Life is hard at times, but good times are always ahead. I pray that everyone stays safe despite this storm.
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the moldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the moldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast
And the days are dark and dreary.
Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.
(Source: http://quotations.about.com/cs/poemlyrics/a/The_Rainy_Day.htm)
Monday, June 25, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Looks Are Deceiving
So, I've already stopped making posts on a regular basis. I guess that's to be expected--being a lawyer AND a new father makes life busy. But here I am, at least for now!
My post today is short and sweet. It's a gentle to reminder to society that lawyers are people, too. People often like to joke with me about how greedy and uncaring lawyers are. Of course, that's a stereotype. But in fairness to them, stereotypes often exist because there is a kernel of truth to them. And there is. However, consider these things:
1) The pressure on lawyers is intense. A few years ago, the average attorney was $80,000 in debt from law school. Even if they're getting paid more than other professions, they must incur high debts to play the game.
2) Not all lawyers are paid well, especially when you divide their salaries by the number of hours they have to work. The reason why attorneys seem distant (or don't return your phone calls as often as you think they should) is because they're working 60 hours a week, often on very arcane matters. And not only are they working those hours, but their work doesn't end even on vacation for many lawyers. The legal field never sleeps.
3) The work isn't as riveting as it is portrayed by Hollywood. Most of it is very mundane. Don't get me wrong. I love many aspects of my job, but most people don't have lives like Jack McCoy's. (And if you notice carefully, even the prosecutors in "Law & Order" are constantly depressed and drinking...there's some truth to that. That segues into my last point.)
4) Some evidence that being a lawyer is tough can be seen in the percentage of alcoholics in the legal profession compared to other professions. It's very high, and it's sad to see. That's why I always tell people to choose carefully when they tell me they're considering being a lawyer. I don't necessarily try to discourage them, but I want them to make an informed decision.
So next time you are thinking of cracking a lawyer joke, please think twice. Lawyers are people too!
My post today is short and sweet. It's a gentle to reminder to society that lawyers are people, too. People often like to joke with me about how greedy and uncaring lawyers are. Of course, that's a stereotype. But in fairness to them, stereotypes often exist because there is a kernel of truth to them. And there is. However, consider these things:
1) The pressure on lawyers is intense. A few years ago, the average attorney was $80,000 in debt from law school. Even if they're getting paid more than other professions, they must incur high debts to play the game.
2) Not all lawyers are paid well, especially when you divide their salaries by the number of hours they have to work. The reason why attorneys seem distant (or don't return your phone calls as often as you think they should) is because they're working 60 hours a week, often on very arcane matters. And not only are they working those hours, but their work doesn't end even on vacation for many lawyers. The legal field never sleeps.
3) The work isn't as riveting as it is portrayed by Hollywood. Most of it is very mundane. Don't get me wrong. I love many aspects of my job, but most people don't have lives like Jack McCoy's. (And if you notice carefully, even the prosecutors in "Law & Order" are constantly depressed and drinking...there's some truth to that. That segues into my last point.)
4) Some evidence that being a lawyer is tough can be seen in the percentage of alcoholics in the legal profession compared to other professions. It's very high, and it's sad to see. That's why I always tell people to choose carefully when they tell me they're considering being a lawyer. I don't necessarily try to discourage them, but I want them to make an informed decision.
So next time you are thinking of cracking a lawyer joke, please think twice. Lawyers are people too!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
The World Isn't Always Fair
No, this post isn't about a "major" world problem (that's for another day). But I'm a NBA fan (I may not be a gifted basketball player, but it holds a special place in my heart as my favorite sport), and today Derrick Rose was knocked out for the rest of the playoffs with a torn ACL.
This is a shame not only for this young man, but also the NBA and society. In a culture that prides itself in coddling prima donnas, and raising them as the ideal to which we should aspire, Derrick Rose was a superstar who was humble. He gave back to his local community, didn't seek the spotlight, and had a team that played as a cohesive unit. (They were 18-9 when he was injured during the regular season, and tied the Spurs for the best record in the league, despite Rose's nagging injuries.) You don't see players of his caliber being such a good role model to young people, and this looked like the year where they could win it all. Instead, now it appears that the Heat should advance to the NBA Finals easily. The Bulls might be able to win in the short run against the Pacers, and maybe against the Celtics in the second round, but it would be extremely difficult for them to beat the Heat based on how well Lebron James is playing. Lebron might be playing at the best level of his career, and the team is molding around his personality, much as they did in Cleveland with worse talent.
I'll be sad if the Heat win the title this year. Unlike many, I don't hate Lebron, but I would like him to eat some humble pie and not win some titles for a few years. How he treated the Cavs and created a circus to boost his ego was something he should be ashamed of. However, we all do things we shouldn't, and I think he's a good image for the NBA for the most part. Also, he plays hard on both ends of the floor, and he passes and buys into the team game.
But let's not forget that a humble guy like Derrick Rose went from being so close to achieving one of his dreams, to having to deal with a major sports injury that might never fully heal. Rose's game is based on explosiveness that others simply cannot match, and an ACL injury might take away his strongest weapon. I still remember when I broke my elbow and my college would not let me play in the biggest match of my tennis career (I played for a small non-Division I school). I was finally going to be able to play for my team in a match that would determine my conference championship, after working years to get to that plateau. I don't pretend that my tribulation was anywhere near Rose's, as he plays at such a higher level, but it does make me not only empathetic to his plight, but also sympathetic. I really do wish he recovers quickly, not only to continue being such a role model for children, but also for himself.
This is a shame not only for this young man, but also the NBA and society. In a culture that prides itself in coddling prima donnas, and raising them as the ideal to which we should aspire, Derrick Rose was a superstar who was humble. He gave back to his local community, didn't seek the spotlight, and had a team that played as a cohesive unit. (They were 18-9 when he was injured during the regular season, and tied the Spurs for the best record in the league, despite Rose's nagging injuries.) You don't see players of his caliber being such a good role model to young people, and this looked like the year where they could win it all. Instead, now it appears that the Heat should advance to the NBA Finals easily. The Bulls might be able to win in the short run against the Pacers, and maybe against the Celtics in the second round, but it would be extremely difficult for them to beat the Heat based on how well Lebron James is playing. Lebron might be playing at the best level of his career, and the team is molding around his personality, much as they did in Cleveland with worse talent.
I'll be sad if the Heat win the title this year. Unlike many, I don't hate Lebron, but I would like him to eat some humble pie and not win some titles for a few years. How he treated the Cavs and created a circus to boost his ego was something he should be ashamed of. However, we all do things we shouldn't, and I think he's a good image for the NBA for the most part. Also, he plays hard on both ends of the floor, and he passes and buys into the team game.
But let's not forget that a humble guy like Derrick Rose went from being so close to achieving one of his dreams, to having to deal with a major sports injury that might never fully heal. Rose's game is based on explosiveness that others simply cannot match, and an ACL injury might take away his strongest weapon. I still remember when I broke my elbow and my college would not let me play in the biggest match of my tennis career (I played for a small non-Division I school). I was finally going to be able to play for my team in a match that would determine my conference championship, after working years to get to that plateau. I don't pretend that my tribulation was anywhere near Rose's, as he plays at such a higher level, but it does make me not only empathetic to his plight, but also sympathetic. I really do wish he recovers quickly, not only to continue being such a role model for children, but also for himself.
Friday, April 27, 2012
So, I decided to start a blog. I used to blog a long time ago when I was in the middle of my college (i.e., undergrad) years, but I got out of it. I enjoy writing (as I should, since as a lawyer I'm in many ways a professional writers), and we only live once, so here I am. Hopefully I keep up with this. Life is full of things to do, and we must prioritize. Anyhow, I look forward to reading others' blogs and interacting with you!
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