I am awakened every morning by one of two sounds: the alarm set on my phone that sounds like crickets or the ping of an email dropping in. This isn't a bad thing. As a matter of fact, I love that I am able to check my inbox before I even roll out of bed. This readies me for the day and also prepares me for any fires that might be starting to burn. I am a big fan of preventative maintenance. And all in the wee small hours of my morning.

I usually give it a rest on the weekend. As a matter of fact, I rarely sit at my computer on Saturday or Sunday. And by rarely, I mean never. I have learned to value my weekend time - mostly because my weekdays are filled with arriving early to work and not wanting to leave my desk until long after the 5pm bell. This all goes to show that not only do I love my work, but I am also a bit of a workaholic.  My only way to combat the disease is to just say no. It isn't always easy and I readily admit that I check emails consistently but only from my mobile device - a great access tool, but not so good for anything other than document review.  Good thing.

I intend to keep it that way. I like that my mobile, in my head at least, is limited to serving as nothing other than a communication device. The ease with which I am able to access and then respond is perfect and keeps my work demons at bay. For some, work/life balance is a fallacy. I can see how this could be true for me, if I let it. My children would all guffaw loudly at the thought that I have work/life balance. They see, first hand, the demands I place on myself and the expectations I presume.

When I worked from home as a consultant, my time was my own. I created my own schedule that worked around that of my family. The weight of simply living in comfort, though, took its toll on us and when an opportunity to go corporate presented itself, I took it. It meant a shift to significant devotion outside of the home but it also freed my weekends, as I can now say no to my computer and to the self-induced burden I often took on, as most self-employed do. There is no rest when you are the employer.

I welcome the sounds that wake me. They mean I have a place to be and someone that needs something from me. And it is good to be needed. There are days when I strongly feel the gap, you know - that space between where I am and where I want to be. I like those days, for it means I am not done, there is much to do and miles to go. Wasn't it Robert Frost? "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep..."

by rayannethorn