Opting out, how to opt back in

I drafted the below post well over two years ago.  It was the last thing I wrote for "invisiblejulie" before I started my weight loss blog.  I'm publishing it now because even though a lot has happend in my life and career since I wrote that entry, I'm sort of in the same place I was... trying to figure out what to do next.  Today, I have a renewed desire to "opt back in" to the workforce, full time, but perhaps on a different path than I was thinking about two years ago. 

The post:

I read a short article today about professional working moms who "opt out" of their careers, only to opt back in a few years later. The article spoke briefly about former Supreme Court Justice Sandara Day O'Connor who must be the ultimate success story of a laywer who opted out of her career for 5 years and then came back when her kids were older only to rise all the way to Supreme Court Justice. (Wow! That's just "wow!" I had no idea! And, she did it in the 1960's!)

The article mentioned a few things that Ms. O'Connor had done to keep abreast of the law, and it got me thinking about my own career. I opted out for about 6 or 7 months, only to opt back in with a part-time position. But, the article got me thinking that maybe there are actually other ways to develop my career.

Some of my initial thoughts.

1. Volunteer to be a case evaluator for Macomb County
2. Volunteer to help resolve disputes between attorneys and clients through the State Bar of Michigan.
3. Volunteer to help resolve disputes between attorneys and clients through the Attorney Grievance Commission.
4. Become involved with the State Board of Law Examiners, perhaps by grading papers.
5. Design a program for the law schools for "opting back in" after an absence.

I must confess, I did not follow up on any of my "initial thoughts" listed above, but these are great ideas.  Some of these things I should take a hard look at trying to do!  I'm off to see if I can find the article I referenced above, and if I find it, I will update.