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Choosing the Road Less Traveled

July 15, 2015 by Sherry Boswell

20 years ago, I was the picture of career-minded and ambitious. Newlywed, fresh off my first year in law school, and working a a law clerk for a well-known law firm, the world was my oyster. The previous year, I had graduated from the University of South Carolina magna cum laude in English. I presented my senior thesis (a requirement as part of the Honors College) in leadership at the LEAD conference in Charleston. I and a fellow senior David Haller received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan award for our involvement in student life, a huge honor at the University.

FullSizeRender

None of these accolades really makes that much difference now though. Not in the grand scheme of things. Don’t get me wrong, I am very proud of my past; I’m just trying not to stay living in it. If I defined myself by whether I had continued to receive this recognition after the kids came along, then I would really be down in the dumps.

swearing in

Moving on: I clerked for a genius circuit court judge who is now on the United States Court of Appeals. Followed by my two year stint as an associate at a Greenville law firm. I was on the partnership track, baby. Four years in, probably 3 more to go.

I had all kinds of plans.

Then my beautiful daughter was born, 9/11 happened, and I said, “No way.”

I chose the road less traveled, at least in the legal community. Or in the community of people who say you need to be moving and shaking. The only thing moving and shaking for me after leaving my firm was me trying to bounce my 5 month old to sleep. And you know what? I was blissfully content in my decision. I may not be a razzle dazzle lawyer whose reputation precedes her. But I wouldn’t give ANYTHING for the time I’ve gotten to spend with my kids. It was the right decision for ME.

20 years later, the nagging question remains: did I mess up by choosing not to eek out a few more years and make partner? I still say no, though some might disagree. I followed my heart and my gut. But I did forget along the way that I had lots of dreams, too that weren’t necessarily mutually exclusive from my being a mom. I didn’t keep in touch with people like I should have. I didn’t spend enough time focusing on my well-being like exercise and fitness. I’ve gotten better about those things but when you’re 40something your body doesn’t always want to cooperate.

I started out on a rocket path trajectory with the law. Today I work part-time as a real estate attorney. I don’t participate in clubs or get my name out there like I should, so I’m by no means a “mover and a shaker.” Real estate isn’t what most would call glamorous. But I love helping people and deciding when I work and being my own boss. If you asked me what would scare me the most when I graduated law school, I would have said hanging a shingle and going into business for myself. That idea petrified me. And it still did when I took a leap and set up my firm in 2010. Sometimes the fact that I am a sole practitioner with my own firm still seems surreal. The 20 year ago me never saw that one coming!

As for this endeavor, I’m trying earnestly to make a go of this blogging thing. Most days I think I’m just failing miserably because my site doesn’t have a huge following, I don’t make money from it, and I am trying my darndest to get sponsored posts and become known in the travel sphere. So far, I’m probably barely making a ripple. Does it mean I should stop? Hell, no. That would be like me giving up on something I cherish, something that’s an enormous outlet for me. I juggle practicing law and blogging. Law pays the bills; writing feeds my spirit. So I need both. I hope that attempting both makes me varied, not foolish. The verdict is still out on that one 😉

20 years from now, I hope I’m saying: it all came together for the greater good. I was a work in progress. I’m still not done because God’s not finished with me yet. Even on my downest days, I am reassured by that hope, the possibility of potential in the very next day. The road less traveled has made all the difference–indeed!

-Sherry

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Filed Under: Blogging, Faith, Family, Mommy Musings Tagged With: #noregrets, blogging, career, Family, lawyer, life choices, Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken

Comments

  1. Lisa aka Minnie Maniac says

    July 15, 2015 at 8:28 AM

    Great article. I chose the path less traveled as well and don’t regret it. As long as you are happy in the path you chose that is all that really matters.

    • Sherry Boswell says

      July 16, 2015 at 8:11 AM

      Agreed! “Forget regret-for life is yours to miss.” (One of the lyrics from Rent) Thanks for commenting, Lisa!

  2. Shannan Younger says

    July 15, 2015 at 1:18 PM

    I love this post so very much and my neck hurts from nodding the whole time I read it. 🙂 We have walked very similar paths and I’m so glad that they finally met up this spring. So excited to see where yours takes you in the next 20 years. I’m sure it will be to some pretty incredible places, literally and figuratively!

    • Sherry Boswell says

      July 16, 2015 at 8:15 AM

      What an encouraging comment! We can be bobbleheads for each other then! 😉 similar lives, different parts of the country. So happy that OUR paths crossed!

  3. Darra Coleman says

    July 15, 2015 at 7:02 PM

    Sherry, I am as proud of you today as I was when I admired all the achievements of 20 years ago Sherry! Your choices reflect your values, which is a powerful lesson to teach your children. Your relationship with Clay and your children is worth more than rubies and gold. You go, Proverbs 31 woman!

    • Sherry Boswell says

      July 16, 2015 at 3:14 PM

      Thanks, little sis! Sisters forever! You have always been such a ray of sunshine-this comment just epitomizes it! Love you!

  4. Mike says

    July 16, 2015 at 7:50 AM

    Nicely written. Miss singing with my free spirited well balanced lawyer friend.

    • Sherry Boswell says

      July 16, 2015 at 3:16 PM

      Aww Mike-miss you too! May have to pop back in for a visit 😉 thanks for the comment!

  5. Kim Lovelace McMahon says

    July 16, 2015 at 2:26 PM

    So beautifully, artfully and heartfully shared. From one Sullivan to another….that unpaved road is the hardest one to begin yet the most joyful one to experience. I am pondering an unpaved road…not sure where to look for it, actually. Thanks for sharing your perspective.

    Come to Columbia, would love to see you this fall at a football game or something. We are always looking for folks to share their journey with students.
    Kim

    • Sherry Boswell says

      July 16, 2015 at 3:20 PM

      Kim, thanks for your feedback. We had all kinds of ideas when we graduated USC, didn’t we? I would love to meet up at a game-it’s been eons since I was there! And we can talk about our paths then 😉

Hi there! I’m Sherry Boswell, an Independent Travel Advisor

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