12 hours

i just worked my first twelve-hour day. (well, not first ever, but first as a lawyer.) i was in the office from 9 to 9. i feel kind of proud of myself - this is what being a first-year associate is supposed to be like!

but i'm also glad that i haven't felt pressured to stay this late before now (and even this was really my own choice - i wanted to get some extra work done because i'm planning on leaving a little earlier than usual tomorrow. shh, don't tell). i don't want to get into a pattern where i feel like i have to work super-long hours all the time. i want to work hard at my job - i honestly enjoy the work, and it's kind of exciting to work hard and work long hours, like running a marathon or something - but i want to be sure to have a life, too.

life is short. i want to accomplish cool things, which takes work, but i also want to enjoy myself. i only have, what, 60 more years left? i don't want to look back and say, "now why did i spend those five years living behind a desk 16 hours a day?" i think you can be a great lawyer and still have time to play scrabble.