It's been about a year since I told my boss that I was going to retire. I was 58 years old at the time. I had been an attorney for 31 years, mostly a corporate environmental lawyer. And for the past 25 years, I had worked for one company. My boss asked me whether I wanted to consult as a retiree. After feeling depressed for an entire weekend thinking about it, I knew the answer had to be "no." It was time to move on. But "retirement" sounded so final. I knew I didn't want to continue in the same job I had held for the past 25 years, but I knew just as clearly that I had no intention of sitting in a rocking chair, watching soap operas, and waiting expectantly for Wheel of Fortune to make my day.
No, what I wanted to do was write. I have always wanted to write. When I was in 9th grade, I sought and was ecstatic when I received The Creative Writing Award at my Junior High's Awards Assembly. I still treasure the pen I received for winning that award. I considered becoming a writer as a young boy, but the practical side of me prevailed. I decided I would have a more reliable income as a history teacher. But given the glut of teachers in the mid-1970s, I was persuaded to change my major to urban planning. Upon graduation, I was fortunate to actually get a job in that field. But within a few years, it became clear to me that career advancement required something beyond my Bachelor of Science. Again, the practical side of me decided that a law degree would open many more doors than a Masters in Planning.
Once again, good fortune smiled upon me. My work in planning had primarily addressed environmental issues, so I wanted to build upon that by concentrating my legal practice in environmental law. Upon graduation from law school, I got a job as an environmental lawyer. Except for one slight detour into commercial law (which I often refer to as my 7 years in the wilderness), I was able to work as an environmental lawyer my entire legal career. It was a good career and I feel like I was quite good at what I did. Like many, I often felt that I didn't receive the recognition I deserved in terms of career advancement. However, if I had received that recognition, I would probably still be answering email questions about EPA's Definition of Solid Waste.
So I retired to start a new career - the career as a writer that I had always dreamed of. So it's been 8 months since I walked out the door of my corporate law office. Where is that novel? What about a short story? How about a letter to the editor? Nothing, huh? Well, let's not be too quick to declare this experiment a failure. It's true that I haven't yet earned a dime as a writer. But is that the only measure of success? What about the 4,000 word spiritual autobiography that I wrote for my EfM (Education for Ministry) class? What about the 200 pages of journal entries that I've written since retirement? What about the half dozen articles I've written for my church's newsletter? I don't know if all this writing is an indication of success, but I believe it is as least a start.
So what is the next step? Since the first day of my retirement, I have wanted to start a blog. I hesitated for any number of reasons. I wasn't sure how to do it. I wasn't sure what it should be about. I wanted to write something that could change the world - and be funny at the same time. But after 8 months I decided it's about time to just start it and see where it takes me. And for those who think, "He traded a career as a corporate lawyer to do this?," I point to the words of John Lennon which gave me the inspiration for the title of this blog:
Watching the Wheels
by John Lennon
People say I'm crazy doing what I'm doing,
Well they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin,
When I say that I'm o.k. they look at me kind of strange,
Surely you're not happy now you no longer play the game,
People say I'm lazy dreaming my life away,
Well they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me,
When I tell that I'm doing Fine watching shadows on the wall,
Don't you miss the big time boy you're no longer on the ball?
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round,
I really love to watch them roll,
No longer riding on the merry-go-round,
I just had to let it go,
People asking questions lost in confusion,
Well I tell them there's no problem,
Only solutions,
Well they shake their heads and they look at me as if I've lost my mind,
I tell them there's no hurry...
I'm just sitting here doing time,
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round,
I really love to watch them roll,
No longer riding on the merry-go-round,
I just had to let it go.
It's about time; life is about time. I just had to let it go.
Peace,
Joe Karas
