“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” This famous line in one of my favorite movies, “The Shining,” embodies what I, along with many, strive for: balance. Though some may argue that balance is overrated, I don’t agree. I feel most fulfilled when I am both productive in my professional life and present in my personal life. However, as a young lawyer, I have found that balance is a luxury I might not yet be able to afford. In order to be equipped with the knowledge and training I need in order to be a successful attorney, I must put in time outside of work: reading Joanne Ross Wilder’s “Pennsylvania family law practice and procedure handbook,” seeking out other guide books related to the practice of family law in Pennsylvania, and taking continuing legal education (CLE) courses. But those hours spent furthering myself as a professional eat into time previously dedicated to my wife and loved ones.

My family understands why I need to put in long hours at the office, but when I am home and still working, it is understandably more frustrating for them. There have been many strained conversations late on weeknights or on Saturday mornings when I am trying to enjoy my free time with my wife and family, but it is clear that my head is elsewhere.