DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE PART I: I Am Burned Out!

I have been a litigator in Eastern North Carolina for 20 years. I have been a mother for 29 years, and for the most part, I have been a single mother to three girls who are 29, 20, and 11.

I had my first daughter when I was 19 years old, a teenager. Although I was 19 years old and had no clue who I was, I was pretty determined.

I was determined to give my daughter the life she deserved, whatever that meant! One thing I wholeheartedly believed was whatever it meant; it included me completing my education. So, with the support of my family, despite being a 19-year-old mother, I was able to earn my bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in women’s studies.

After relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, and being in a marriage that existed for all of the wrong reasons, I realized my undergraduate degree would not allow me to provide for my child as I had hoped it would. So, I applied to one law school, was accepted, and the rest is history. Well, not really! LOL!

My second daughter was born two months before I graduated from law school. 

Both young and feeling ourselves, her dad and I were too centered on our own wants and needs. It just didn’t click that all of our decisions were to be guided by what was in our baby girl’s best interest once she came into the world. So, our relationship flopped; I returned to North Carolina with my two girls, took the bar exam, and created life as I thought it should be. Again, all while having no clue who I was.

What I did know is that I had grit and determination. I know, so cliche’. 🙂 But that is all I was sure of.

So, I hit the ground running determined to build a solid reputation as a fierce litigator. Not to mention, there was also the issue of having these children that needed to be provided for, and my earnings were solely based on the clients that I was able to bring into the law office where I landed. So, I worked my ass off to prove that I was ready, willing, and able to advocate for people that trusted me enough to give me a chance.

Several years after practicing law, I attended a Death Penalty Conference. I remember meeting a lot of interesting, awe-inspiring litigators who were extremely passionate about the work they did. Today, I could not tell you anything those awe-inspiring litigators told me, but I vividly remember meeting a female lawyer during lunch one day. This lady lawyer sticks in my memory because she shared with me that she decided to stop litigating because she found it impossible to balance work with her responsibilities as a wife and a mother. Instead of accepting and applauding her decision, I judged her. Let me just say I was not the woman that I have evolved into today.

I attributed her “failure” to her lack of ambition, organization, and dedication.

I was suffering from what I now call the SUPERWOMAN COMPLEX. I was still running around with my superwoman cape and my ego on my shoulder, believing that if you work hard enough, no matter what, you can strike the perfect balance. This complex ultimately led to my burnout!

I never thought I would see the day come when I would acknowledge there is no such thing as balance. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BALANCE! And, if you try to force your life to be in balance, you will run yourself into the ground. With that being said, when I look around it is clear to me that I am not alone in this state of burnout. So the next few posts are dedicated to the world of burnout.

Stay tuned for Wednesday’s post, DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE PART II – WHAT IS BURNOUT?

Much Love,

Tonza