meridian_rose

At the risk of hijacking this thread more than I already have (sorry - seems to be a bad habit), the best way I can put it, Lisa, is that my feelings about what I do perhaps parallel your passion and identification of yourself as a writer and creative person. My work, for better or worse, is the basis of my self-identity. That may not be very healthy, since, unlike writing, I won't be able to do it for my entire life.

Like your bouts of feeling that you may have lost your muse, I have gone through, and will again,periods of burn out, when I feel hollowed out - as if I can't continue doing this work any more. Then a case will energize me again, reminding me of why this was the path I chose. There have also been many times when I've questioned my abilities.

Also, unlike writing, whatever good I do in my work is always a team effort. I may be the attorney prosecuting the case, but I couldn't do it without the dedication and help of the social workers, the child protective service interviewers, the guardian ad litems for the children, and the emotional and legal support of my co- workers, who are the best people I could ever have working with me.

And with that - I promise I'll shut up now. :D