This month’s T-SQL Tuesday is hosted by TJay Belt (@tjaybelt). I find this month’s topic, balancing work and life, intriguing, and after a hiatus of non-blogging, I’m happy that this is my first one back.

Like many in tech, I put all I have into what I do. Even to this day, the thirst for knowledge has never waned. Many of us can tell stories of all-night workloads and try to stay one step ahead. It’s IT; we signed up for it.

Work/life balance has become more prominent for me throughout the years. My kids are growing up fast, and I see firsthand how moments can slip by if you let them. Time doesn’t stand still; many times, I wish it had.

Another critical piece in work/life balance for me is the people I get to work alongside. Relationships and people are significant, we hear the term burn out a lot in the tech industry, but it can relate to all industries. The stress levels will come, life is not easy, and it can throw some knock-out punches quickly; when you least expect it. Learning to control what you can manage and letting go of what you can’t have been at times difficult to do.

I’m still growing on this journey, and I hope that others will know you won’t always get it right. What works for one will not work for another. It’s okay to find your way and at the end of the day, the culture, relationships, family, work – they all matter.

You will never know what someone else is going through or enduring. Words you speak will either elevate or cut like a sword. May we continue to strive to be the best version of ourselves that we can be.