Previous Post Deleted — Glitter for Breakfast

You may have noticed that my last blog post is now gone. This isn’t the internet playing evil tricks on you (or me), but instead, came about after I decided that the post didn’t accomplish anything. It was apologetic for things I don’t need to apologize for, defensive, when I have no reason to be, and all in all it didn’t accomplish a whole heck of a lot.

In case you didn’t see it, the post discussed that while my work life is booming, my personal life is taking a hit and how I feel guilty about it. I think a lot of the impetus for the post came from this need that I’ve been feeling to justify what I do and defend my decision not to be at a law firm. Part of this is residue from law school where going to a firm is the norm and though we with aspirations for an “alternate career” exist, we are few and far between. To convey your desires to the career counselors is shockingly difficult, apparently it is unfathomable that someone doesn’t want to go to a firm, but we unicorns do exist. It was also motivated by comments I’ve received from people I thought were completely in my corner who it turns out aren’t exactly as supportive as I thought they were. Like anything in life, there will always be doubters, non-believers, even adversaries and that’s completely normal. For me the struggle was that I thought these people fell squarely in the “Team Leah” camp. I’ll get them back to the light side in the end :)

So yes, while work has picked up a ton since I officially left the traditional practice of law and my time is therefore more limited than it was at the start of the year, I don’t need to defend that or apologize for it. In fact, I celebrate it. Having people approach me and want to work with me, getting more projects, working with new people and companies is so much fun and I feel incredibly lucky. As the saying goes, "the best offense is a good defense," but what I'm finally coming to really internalize is that I don't need to have my shield or sword at the ready. Creating a business is tough, it takes endless determination, lots of late nights and early mornings (and what pray tell is a weekend or holiday?), humor, humility, desire, passion, and will bring out every emotion imaginable. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean it is in any way a battle. Really understanding this difference has changed my outlook and the last two days have been incredible because of it.

On that note, a few small things, because it really is all about the little things, that have made me smile in the past week-ish:

A very kind note sent to me from someone I don’t know via Instagram to say that she loves the positivity I put out
The weather in NYC finally becoming downright gorgeous
Getting off the waitlist for a class I really wanted to take (I told you these were little things)
Lots of laughter
Having itunes play just the song I needed to hear
Catching up with a prior work supervisor who I’m very close to

What little things have made you smile recently?