My physician friend used to say that about her residency, “The longer you stay, the longer you stay.”

This was in the days before there was a mandatory reduction of hours for residents, back when they might just keep working around the clock.

Do you really want a resident working on you who is sleep deprived?

When you read the subject line of this email, how did you fill in the blank?

The longer you stay the longer you…

… have to wake up every day and pretend?

…participate in a patriarchal, oppressive culture that’s not in alignment with your values?

…represent clients who make your skin crawl?

…endure sexist or racist comments?

It’s not your fault that this is where you are. AND if you want to do something about it, you can.

If just thinking about staying longer in your (big) law job makes you feel nauseous and like “nothing good” will come from it…

Let’s do something about it, shall we?

Even if you feel powerless right now, just by the fact that you’re reading this means that you’re not.

What is it costing you to stay?

Not being present with the people you love most?

Waking up every day with dread and anxiety?

How good will it feel to go from that to being totally free?

How would it feel to be proud of where you work and what you do?

To have your kids see you changing your life and enjoying your job?

Because the longer you stay, the longer you stay. So let’s get you out!

If in your heart and soul you know you don’t wanna stay, and your brain is telling you should “for the money or the prestige…”

Those things are all figureoutable.

However, you cannot reclaim time.

Hugs,

Elena