Dear XenopusTex,

I previously read you ‘thoughts from a cell phone bill’ and now this one about finding time for love. I know that you are a short to the point, no BS type of person so I’d like to pose some no fluff questions for you to think about.

If you met the woman of your dreams, when would you MAKE time to be with her?
If you fell in love with this woman, would you plan a wedding around your work schedule?
What about kids? Would you be there for the birth, birthdays, little league, family vacations?

You’ve said that you want love. You also say that you can’t be without your phone in case the office needs you and that you get called into work on your time off.

You can’t be in two places at one time. If you give 100% to the job, what is left for someone else in your life?

I know your type of job is demanding, I’ve been in a similar position myself within the legal field. But something more important came into my life, my daughter. Only you can set the boundaries of work in your life. Only you can decide what is important to you. I’m sure that a professional of your level knows all about time management and prioritizing to meet your goals. You just have to decide what it is that you truly want in your life and do it. I’m sure there are people in your office that have a healthy balance between work and family life. It CAN be done, if thats what you truly want.

I would suggest that you start by retraining the office that you are not on call 24/7 and that you have a life. Make boundaries of the calls and emails you will respond to after hours and on weekends. It can be done. Start out by using the time for yourself, things you want to do. After a while, when the office has started respecting you and your boundaries.. then start looking around for someone to share your free time with.

I really hope this post doesn’t pissed you off, thats not my intention, but I really would like to see you stand up for yourself with your job and give yourself a chance to find someone to truly care for and love you.

I look forward to your thoughts on what I’ve said. I hope you read it in the spirt in which was intended.

~Shipp