Learn to Relax!
Many, many moons ago, I was gearing up to assist some trial attorneys on a case. We worked for about 3-4 weeks preparing for this trial. Long nights and weekends -- it was exhausting.
The case ultimately settled on the day the trial was to start. We were all happy and looking forward for some time off.
Unfortunately, for me, I was needed on another trial support gig -- in Hawaii. I know what you're saying, "It's in Hawaii! How bad could it be???"
Well my friends, I was relatively new to the trial support game at the time and was always giving it my 110% effort and then some. Worked long hours, had shorter breaks and didn't give myself a chance to relax when I could.
There I was in a conference room with a window view of the beach. But, I felt I couldn't even take time off to take a walk and decompress. It was a sickness I had at the time.
I started feeling very depressed. I was missing my family and, to top it off, my birthday was coming up. And, all I can think of was that I would still be in this wretched place!
This place that had it all… beautiful beaches with warm waters, nice people as happy as they can be, scenery that would take your breath away and none of it I could enjoy.
I managed to make myself take a couple of hours off on my birthday and took a trolly around the Island. That was the extent of my birthday celebration -- and, back to work I go.
We won the trial and got our client a very sizable verdict. All were happy… well, mostly all. I couldn't wait to get home.
As much as I loved being back with my family, I just wasn't the same after the Hawaii gig. I felt I couldn't do my job anymore. I discussed it with my wife and we both agreed that it was time for me to quit the firm.
I went to work the next day with full intentions on quitting. I explained to management what was going on and how I feeling. And, instead of letting me quit, they convinced me into taking a sick leave.
You know that saying, "it will get worse before it gets better"? That's what happened. After this great firm gives me an avenue to heal, I slowly fell into a deep depression.
During the six weeks I was on leave, part of it was spent curled up like a baby in bed. I felt physical pain in my chest as if a close loved one had passed away. I didn't understand it. I didn't know what was happening to me.