RIP: CL

Don't worry, Cheryl-lynn, the CL is not for you. Though it makes me think of you whenever I write it.

Well, I could rewrite my journal or transcribe a dozen conversations. But instead I'll just condense this and if you have questions, I'll answer them.

I have closed my law practice. No more Checketts Law.

It's been on my mind since the last few days of September. Over the course of about 3 days I went from full-speed ahead to almost a dead standstill. Then I pondered, weighed options, ignored it, etc. for about 6 weeks. On November 14 I made a final decision.  Then slowly but surely I've been tying up loose ends.

Last week, I really set to and by the end of the week everything that I could control was done. (I'm still waiting for a couple of companies to finish their parts, but I'm done.)  I have to pay December's rent (but not January - June's  --- hooray!), so some of my things are stored in the office. But I'm out.

I will continue to do cases on the side, just like I have for the past 3 years, but won't work to get clients.

Why?, you ask. I hated the business part (and I don't use that word lightly, thank you, Mother). I like the law part, but I really disliked the business parts. Finding clients, everything related to billing, making business decisions, etc. Awful. I just want to go to work, do what someone tells me to do and get a paycheck.

This has been an option for a couple of years, so I'm glad I tried it. And I'm glad I'm done. If it had been for financial reasons, I would have kept going for awhile but I just hated the whole thing. And, as my father said, if I hated it now, I'll probably still hate it in 6 months. So why wait?
Despite that reality, it took me awhile to make the decision. Was I quitting too soon? Blobbity, blob. I was making myself sicker and more stressed out by the day and week. I was so stressed by it all that I was angry (I very, very seldom really get angry, so this was very disturbing to me); angry at everyone and everything--for a few days I seriously wanted to just hit people and things. So stressed that I literally could not sing (I'd heard of this, but didn't know it was real--it is. And I had a concert during that.)

Finally, one morning I said to myself:  I would rather go sew straight lines, on a fixed schedule, earning minimum wage than go over to that office. And that was the "done" point for me. Realizing that I truly felt that way, I was done.

And then, as I told my family in an email, I felt like a quitter. But a very, very happy quitter. :)
Fortunately, over the past few years one of the main lessons I have been learning is to make my decisions based on what I and the Lord think and not worry about others. And that served me very well in this.

So, it's over. Not sure what's next. I have Northeastern still. And my morning tutoring job. And I'm looking into other things. Stay tuned.

As I cleaned my office last week (now two weeks after my decision), I saw the many, many things I did for the business.  A lot! And it made me a little sad.
Sad, but not regretful.  I wouldn't take back anything.  Especially not the special lessons I've learned about myself and about God (and there have been a couple of very specific ones that I will carry forward from here).


Yes, that's a condensation. There are so many other thoughts, feelings, experiences, etc. So I promise, that is just a small summary.