Date: June 2nd, 2010
I know, I know, back-to-back work entries, but I had an epiphany while I was filling out the paperwork for one of our clients and, having never filed divorce papers myself, I decided to share it.
What was this important, life-altering, epiphany that must be shared? Filing for divorce is actually rather boring. I'm sure its less boring for the parties directly involved, but the level of paperwork and the specificity required to make sure that all the loose ends are tied up is quite cumbersome.
This may sound crazy, but I was kind of happy to find a part of this job that I don't love. I was starting to worry about myself. Like I'd caught some disease that makes people subconsciously adore their jobs in a way that borders on inappropriate infatuation. That would be a horrible disease, wouldn't it? The job just feels so much more real now that I've found something tedious about. Perhaps that's silly, but its the truth.
I also found myself marveling at how much detail is required to perform even the simplest of divorces. Ensuring that the separation is appropriate takes a lot of work. I think that divorces are something that I will struggle with because I see the need and importance every day (especially when clients who've been the victim of domestic violence), but I found myself so, well, bored. The work isn't invigorating or enthralling like the briefs and motions for court that I sometimes get to write. It isn't a scavenger hunt for important details like the answers I've gotten to write. Its just paperwork.
The true epiphany that I had that day was not how boring divorce papers are, but that the true selflessness of a job comes not from doing it and loving it, but from doing even the parts that you don't love. I take great pride in helping people, especially by working at Legal Services. However, if I can't wrap my head around doing even the boring parts then I'm not as committed as I'd like to believe. So far I was able to soldier through the tedious work. It is, however, going to be my biggest challenge in the future.
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