Life balance - "Obama takes it slow before upcoming busy week"

This story posted last evening on the AP.

For over 5 and a half years, I was a political appointee to the mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah. I can honestly say that the two of us had NO work life balance, as did others on the staff. We were both workaholics and spent untold hours in the office - me some 60 hours a week - he frequently upwards of 100 hours. The mayor confided in me that he wished he were married - that would have surely eased his burden.

President Obama is a remarkable man with enormous challenges ahead of him. What I like about him is his commitment to his country, his family, and above all, his wife, as evidenced by his keeping his campaign promise to her this weekend as they came to NYC for dinner and a play.

Here is the article: Obama takes it slow before upcoming busy week
AP
posted: 8 HOURS 33 MINUTES AGO
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WASHINGTON -It was a leisurely weekend for President Barack Obama, whose schedule is about to kick into high gear for domestic and overseas business.
Obama played a full round of golf on Sunday at Fort Belvoir, Va., where he stayed for about five hours. It was his fourth golf outing in about five weeks. The president and first lady Michelle Obama on Saturday watched their daughter's soccer game in the morning and then flew to New York for a late-night date.
But it's all back to business on Monday, when Obama plans to deliver an address about the auto industry. The following day he begins a five-day journey to Europe and the Mideast.

Americans and their commutes - are we crazy?

Last year, Americans spent 4.2 billion hours sitting in traffic. This according to an IBM ad online in the NY Times today.

I have spent years in the workforce and some of that time commuting. I have learned that quality of life is far more important the older I get.

A commute time of up to one hour is acceptable, but anything longer just cuts into the quality of one's life. I am convinced, and studies will support this - that Americans are happier when their commutes are shorter.

I recall driving to work daily for about two years - I would listen to NPR and found myself yelling at the radio whenever I heard things with which I disagreed. I would then find myself at the office some 40 minutes to one hour later and would have to check my mood, which was inevitably soured by the long drive, the traffic, the accidents and of course, the news stories that made my blood boil.

I now live in Westchester, New York and commute just under one hour - it is just the right amount of time to read a chapter in a book, say hi to regulars and enjoy the day.

Granted, not everyone can work so close to where they live, but it behooves us to try to do so whenever possible, not just for our own sanity, but for the environment and our children.