Spring Forward...

[peacetraveler22]

In America, we have an expression - "spring forward, fall back." The phrase is used in connection with Daylight Savings Time, when Americans move their clocks one hour forward at the start of the spring season and one hour back in autumn. However, the saying also is a metaphor for life. At times, problems, frustrations and stresses pile to the point that we stumble and fall backward. The challenge is to not get beaten down to the point that you give up and refuse to lift yourself from the ground. People who fail to do so account for a large portion of the miserable, bitter adults roaming the planet. For me, the main frustration recently has been my job, which has become overbearing and life consuming. This leads to almost no time for the blog or anything else in life, and it's the reason for my long absence from writing here the past few weeks. Yet, we are always in control of our own lives and destiny to some extent, so I formulated a plan for change.

A few weeks ago, I started writing a proposal to reduce my work schedule as a lawyer. The goal was to convince my law firm that I am valuable, even if I'm in the office less. As lawyers, we are trained to be persuasive, to argue and advocate for the interests of our clients and, ultimately, for ourselves. I wrote here that being single with no children provides me with a lot freedom in life - ultimately, I'm financially responsible for and answer only to myself. And, for me, the most important thing in life is to keep moving forward and exploring, not having a huge bank account.

My proposal was approved on Friday and will be implemented at the beginning of April. What does this mean? Less time in the office and more time to travel! Also, a large reduction in salary so I'll probably have fewer trips overseas, although I'll somehow find a way to return to Russia in the near future. :) Two international trips already are planned, and I'll announce the details soon.

Many of you contacted me in comments and personal messages during my absence to make sure I was okay. I'm grateful to have so many dedicated and kind readers. Together, we spring forward - both on the blog and with the change of season. The cherry blossoms, pictured in the cover photo from 2013, will soon be in full bloom in Washington, DC. It's the most beautiful time in the city, and I'll show you more in future reports.

A reminder that you can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Comments

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

Good for that your wishes actualized.

We still are below the freezing point here. But the snow has been blown away off the rhododendrons.

[siberian-cat.livejournal.com]

Ottawa: 14F, piles of snow...

[mat-uc.livejournal.com]

Moscow. +18C, sunny, windy and very warm.
I don't know what to wear...

[grimalkin2006.livejournal.com]

Success to you!

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

I hope that your positive mood is real and life pleases you

[rider3099.livejournal.com]

Hello my dear Shannon! Glad you are here!
Have a perfect day :)

[phd-paul-lector.livejournal.com]

Nice photo and nice to see you back :)

[mujlan01.livejournal.com]

Well after reading every week on Huffpost about "the death of middle class in us"... How welladucated people have to struggle to make the ends meet...
You've decided to work less. Fuck the money I need something else...)) I don't understand you, but wish you luck, I guess you know what you are doing))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I don't want to approach old age and say "I wish I would've done this..." Since my teenage years, I've been "actualizing." First, by getting my doctorate. Then I got it and am now bored with the path to which it led. So, time for change. Baby steps and maybe someday I can leave the profession altogether. It's cold in DC also, but will be warm later in the week.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Sounds perfect! We had a lot of snow this year in DC, highly unusual.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Russian winter came to America this year. It's been brutal in many regions of the country, while Moscow had a warmer than average winter.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Readers play a big role in my success, so thanks for your continued support!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Why would I fake a positive mood? I'm not a fake person. If I'm sad, angry or depressed you will know. Same for happiness. Now I'll just be poorer. Perhaps this will lead to unexpected sadness in the future, but I'll learn to survive.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Happy to be back. :) Enjoy your day in sunny California.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thanks! DC is a beautiful city in spring time.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Why don't you understand me? I'm lucky to have a great job and reasonable boss. He's a nice, compassionate Jew. :) And, even with my reduced salary, I am still earning a lot more than the average American. Enough to survive with the simple life I lead. Yes, I need something more in life than cranking out work for corporate monsters, or being in the top 5% of earners in America. Hopefully this is the answer.

[phd-paul-lector.livejournal.com]

I can see :)

You need to introduce Hanami there (that's "enjoying flowers" (sakura and Ume plum) in Japan. A good pretext for drrinking in plein air, to tell the truth :)

[phd-paul-lector.livejournal.com]

On Wednesday, however, we are expecting a, well, "Indian Winter" in Moscow. Like an Indian summer but this is winter :)

[mat-uc.livejournal.com]

А мне понравилось. Метель, пробка, хорошо, что рядом с домом ездил.

:)

[mat-uc.livejournal.com]

It's a luck for you, i hope...

this winter i ride a alpin ski just in a France. In Moscow it was impossible.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Last week I attended a sake event at the start of the Festival. Do you know this Japanese liquor? Pure poison! :)

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

Yes, people change professions with time. I had a medical student who went to a NYC ophthalmology residency then switched to the web design. Speaking if doctorates, I've practically never seen a good physician or a lawyer, meaning normally I tell them what to do and then they just sign the papers or prick my backside. Perhaps, my bad luck.

---

(regarding Ukraine and the petitions - http://onkel-hans.livejournal.com/123926.html)

Ottawa is farther North

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

than even North Carolina!

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

The Norwegians for the Swedes are like the West Virginians here. And the Swedes say about Norway - they've had a beautiful Summer this year, it fell right on a weekend.

[phd-paul-lector.livejournal.com]

Nooooo... a good sake (to be precise, "nihon-shu" as in Japanese "sake" is alcohol in general) is a great thing. Good sake tastes like a fruity white wine (and is drunk cold, not hot; sake is heated just like vodka is chilled - for hiding imperfect taste. When it is made warm in cold weather, nobody takes good, expensive sake for that).

Sake can be very different, too.

I spent a couoplke of years in Japan and came to enjoying this drink. (And even shochu and awamori - strong and sort of smelly liquors).