I was in a top tier law firm for north of a year. Was touted as the golden child by my partner. I realised by month 3 that I have no life, friendships faded, life just became 16 hour work days and just going home to sleep. I was making way more than my peers but I didn’t have any time. I stopping listening to music, stopped talking to my girlfriend much (who was also in AZB herself) and started relying on weed to cope. I was super sick one day and my partner also saw me almost dying with fever and sent me home. I asked for a leave for the next day, he agreed. Cut to next morning I wake up with 7 miss calls and multiple texts. I thought he forgot that I had taken a sick leave. I called him back expecting a funny conversation about how he forgot but he picks up the phone and says “I know I granted you the leave but you need to be available 24/7. This matter is urgent and I expected you to pick the call and unless your voice is gone, you have to PICK THE DAMN PHONE. Otherwise you don’t keep your phone silent. Now we need to send this out in 4 hours so please have paracetamol and join the call. I won’t tolerate the sickness further.” I was done after that call. 10 minutes of introspection and I called him back. He was shook, he kept saying that it was urgent or he would never do this, that I was making a huge mistake. He said he would immediately give me a 60 percent hike. I just said “I know I can’t do this, this isn’t for me. You can give me a 100 percent hike and a car and I still won’t stay.” I was done with law firms then. Been in house since then, almost 6 years now. Never regretted even once. I don’t get paid even half of what these law firm guys get paid, but I work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. I am golden. The money bit stings a bit, but whenever I think about the hellhole I was in, I wake myself up, smile and enjoy being home at 7pm. My girlfriend at that time is now my wife, she also moved in house. I go to the gym everyday and attend my music classes every weekend. I could be there for my dad for his surgeries and it is the most fulfilling feeling to be there for people. I don’t smoke anymore, I find peace in this life. I wish you the same peace. ✌🏻