Charlie Rose, my favorite TV interviewer, appeared on Larry King Live last night to share details about the health crisis that kept him confined to a hospital bed for a month (and then to his home for an additional 5 weeks)…
[I]t was instructive for me to listen to Charlie talk about his commitment to work, which he pursued, invariably, at the expense of family and friends. And, just as I was beginning to infer that he considered this an acceptable trade-off, he conceded the following:
‘I’ve had to think about how do I change … everyone who knows me knows that I’m always in fifth gear and too involved in work … pushing too hard [to do too many things]… But I have to think now of what is the appropriate balance… I want to make sure I have dinner with friends… I’m asking have I lived a good life… Nobody on their death bed says I wish I spent more time at the office… I’ve spent too much time working, and the opportunity, or the commitment I have now is to read more and to spend more time with friends….’
But enough about Charlie; It’s just that, as I was on sick leave for the first time in my 20-year career, his story led me to think about what impact my illness might have on my personal and professional life. But let me hasten to clarify that mine was hardly a ‘health crisis’. Indeed, compared to Charlie’s heart problems, my viral infection amounted to little more than a common cold.
Nonetheless, like Charlie’s, my A-type personality compels me to believe that I can do a million things at once, and do them all well. However, unlike him, I’ve always considered nurturing my family ties and personal friendships amongst the most important things I do. And I’ve received sufficient feedback in this respect to feel assured that no change is necessary.
Instead, when I thought ‘about how do I change’ my worker-bee personality, it occurred to me that I need to establish a more appropriate balance between my vocation (job that pays the bills) and avocations (hobbies) to relieve the mental and physical stress that my doctor is absolutely convinced was the cause of my illness (and sustained cholesterol level above 350). And there’s the rub: Because, when I reach Charlie’s age and begin reflecting on his question (i.e., Have I lived the good life?), I doubt I’ll be able to answer ‘yes’ if I continue to dedicate so much time and effort to my vocation at the expense of my avocations.
Therefore, as Charlie (who was himself a practicing attorney before becoming a TV interviewer) seeks to reduce his workload to have more time for the family and friends he has neglected over the years, I have resolved to reduce my workload to have more time for the public-service activities that I believe will lead to a much better life.
(Professional epiphany: I have returned my flower, a changed bee, The iPINIONS Journal, June 20, 2006)
I was as disappointed as I was shocked this summer to realize that it had been five years since I vowed to establish a more appropriate balance between my vocation and avocations. Because I honestly thought it would only take about a year to follow through on this life-changing (and life-saving) epiphany.
Mind you, this is not for want of trying. In fact I have been working assiduously this entire time to organize my professional life to arrive as this point:
I am happy to report that I have finally reduced (and reorganized) my professional life so that I have only a handful of clients to represent and, more importantly, can do most of my work from my now well-appointed home office.
Alas, I can’t say that there has been a commensurate improvement in my overall health. But it’s early days yet….
NOTE: The irony is not lost on me that, far from reducing his workload, Charlie has doubled it by signing on recently to host the CBS Morning Show. He clearly has a death wish. I don’t.
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Professional epiphany…