{"id":5301,"date":"2023-12-08T19:22:10","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T23:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/sandra-day-oconnors-secret-to-a-happy-life\/"},"modified":"2023-12-08T19:22:10","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T23:22:10","slug":"sandra-day-oconnors-secret-to-a-happy-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/sandra-day-oconnors-secret-to-a-happy-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Sandra Day O\u2019Connor\u2019s Secret to a Happy Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Profit<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

\n

In 1995, I had the most memorable job of my life. I spent a year clerking for Justice Sandra Day O\u2019Connor, which meant that with three fellow clerks, I did writing, review, and analysis to help the Justice in her work. It was an extraordinary privilege to serve, in this small way, the operation of the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n

I remember the first day I met the Justice, for my interview\u2014she was friendly and easy to talk to, yet had an unmistakable air of command. (I was startled to learn that I should address her as \u201cJustice,\u201d as in \u201cThank you, Justice.\u201d It seemed that every time we spoke to her, we invoked the Spirit of Justice, the virtue she was meant to uphold.)<\/p>\n

During the year I served in the SO\u2019C chambers, I saw for myself her determination, her openness to argument, her clarity, her impatience, her sense of humor.<\/p>\n

After my clerkship ended, and even after I quit working as a lawyer to become a writer in New York City, Justice O\u2019Connor and I kept in touch.<\/p>\n

One day, the Justice called to tell me about iCivics<\/a>, her initiative to give children a strong civics education. As we talked, I pictured her sitting in her chambers. With white marble, pediments, and Corinthian columns, the Supreme Court building looks like a Roman temple, but\u2014quite incongruously, and with her typical independence\u2014Justice O\u2019Connor\u2019s chambers held woven blankets, baskets, and cowboy sculptures to remind visitors of her beloved American Southwest.<\/p>\n

We talked about her plans for iCivics, and why she believed it was so important for children to learn to become engaged citizens. Then she asked me what I was working on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m finishing up my book The Happiness Project<\/a><\/em>,\u201d I told her. \u201cIt\u2019s an account of a year I spent test-driving theories about how to live a happier life\u2014tackling areas like my energy, friendship, family, work, mindfulness, service, gratitude. All that.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said, \u201cWell, I can tell you what I<\/em> believe is the secret to a happy life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that, Justice?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWork worth doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInteresting,\u201d I said, noting that this three-word response was typical of the Justice\u2019s style\u2014decisive, pragmatic, and brief. \u201cBut isn\u2019t it somewhat\u2026limited?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d she said firmly. \u201cWork worth doing. That\u2019s all you really need.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmmm,\u201d I said. \u201cI\u2019ll think that over.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a long time, I wasn\u2019t sure I agreed with her. What about relationships? Contemporary scientists and ancient philosophers agree that relationships are a key to happiness. And wasn\u2019t the focus on \u201cwork\u201d too narrow?<\/p>\n

But now, with time and experience, I recognize the wisdom of her answer. \u201cWork\u201d can mean different things to different people, but no matter what form it takes, if we\u2019re doing work worth doing, we\u2019re spending our time and energy in a way that reflects our values.<\/p>\n

Sandra Day O\u2019Connor did work worth doing. She dedicated her life to the aim of good government: she served in all three branches; she was elected, appointed, and volunteered to serve in countless roles; she promoted the rule of law and judicial independence; she showed that \u201ca young cowgirl from the Arizona desert\u201d could make it to the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n

Justice O\u2019Connor\u2019s personal qualities, as well as her professional qualities, helped her to succeed. She was analytical, tough, and practical, and she also believed in having fun at work. When she and her clerks came in on weekends, she\u2019d often bring lunch for us all to share, we celebrated birthdays, we went fishing\u2014I also attended her famous morning aerobics class, with our \u201cJustice Never Rests\u201d t-shirts.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Much more importantly, her personal warmth served the Court. As a moderate conservative who often held the key vote in high-profile, contentious decisions, she was in a tough position, but her strong relationships with the other justices helped to hold the Court together and steer its course.<\/p>\n

In 2018, when she announced her retirement from public life, she reflected on her career:<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve seen first-hand how vital it is for all citizens to understand our Constitution and unique system of government, and participate actively\u2026working collaboratively\u2026to solve problems, putting country and the common good above party and self-interest, and holding our key governmental institutions accountable.<\/p>\n

In one paragraph, she summed up everything she\u2019d striven to promote. The Constitution. Active participation. Collaboration. Putting the common good above party and self-interest. Accountability.<\/p>\n

Work worth doing!<\/em> What a happy life Sandra Day O\u2019Connor led. Perhaps her death will remind us to recommit ourselves to the great American ideals she worked so hard to advance.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Profit<\/a>
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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