When I first became a lawyer, I was proud and excited to share my knowledge with my family. At dinners, I’d answer small questions about contracts or explain confusing legal terms. It felt good to help.But slowly, things changed. Family gatherings turned into work sessions, with relatives bringing stacks of papers for me to review. Late-night calls became routine, always starting with, “Can I just ask you one quick thing?”
I stayed quiet, afraid of hurting anyone’s feelings.Then one day, my cousin got into serious legal trouble. My aunt called me, expecting me to represent him for free. I gently explained that while I cared deeply for the family, this case required too much time and responsibility for me to handle without proper compensation.
Her reaction stunned me. Instead of understanding, she grew upset and accused me of being selfish. My cousin, hurt and confused, stopped speaking to me.For weeks, I felt guilty, questioning whether I’d made the right choice. But over time, I realized something important: helping others is meaningful, but not at the cost of your own well-being and boundaries.
Setting limits doesn’t mean you don’t care — it means you respect yourself and your work. And sometimes, the most loving thing you can do for family is to teach them the value of balance and respect.
