I recently recieved a surprise phone call from one of the most influential mentors I had during my teenage years. His name is John Peek and he was a member of my home ward in Wrightwood California. He was also the head of the Spanish Department at my high school and someone who cared deeply for the youth of the ward and his students. In our phone conversation that Sunday afternoon we talked about my current employment and some potential options I will have available in the next few months.
He paused for a second and then told me that if he could go back and change anything in his life as a parent, it would be to have a better work/life balance where he spent more time with his family. He became a High School principal after I left for my mission and his passion for helping under-priveleged and troubled children, although supremely honorable, had left a void in the lives of some of his kids that he can never go back and fix.
That advice resonated with me and caused me to do some thinking and re-thinking. Thisweek's lesson gave me some additional perspective regarding work/life balance. I enjoyed the video where the man (currently a CEO) discussed finding a balance between living our your passion and following your dreams, and still making time for what counts. He said it's not static, it's a dynamic balancing act that you must be aware of and fine tune as you have changes in your life.
I would like to pursue a job or a position where I feel so much passion for my job that I struggle a bit with my work/life balance. Where I am pulled toward work to do great things and to create change. I don't feel inspired much by my current employment but it allows for a great work/life balance and it pays well enough for us to have the comforts we need.
I have a lot of thinking to do.