Weekend

I'm considering the trap of working twenty-four-seven because I can't keep my mind on the book I'm trying to read.

It's Saturday afternoon. I've been trying to read a book about writing but find my attention turned toward writing notes for an upcoming meeting, working on a budgeting question, and having to hire a replacement for an important position.

Early this morning, I took myself out for a run. Heading out, I wasn't sure where I'd go. I like to let each step down the road decide these things the way that writing each word of this informs the next words. I write to learn what I have to say. I run to see where I go.

Turns out, I ran across town, past my office. I didn't bring keys, so there was no going inside to see what I had left there to do. Instead, I looked at the place and smiled, knowing that it is my building, my organizations, my happy home.

Then I jogged back to my other happy home where, hours later, I'm thinking about working non-stop. I know better than to do that, know not to check or send email, know something about balance. It's not work-life balance I hope to demonstrate to my staff so much as life-work balance, with family and self primary.

I know people who work twenty-four-seven. That's their choice and may work for them, but it's no way to get the best for and out of the people who have entrust me to lead them, so, rather than obsessing about work, I've written a few words about it, metaphorically passing the office by, smiling at it, and heading back toward home, which, in this case, is inside the pages of a book about something unrelated to the work I do Monday through Friday.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.