As
the
end
of
2024
approaches,
I
find
myself
reflecting
on
the
year
that
has
been.
This
past
year
has
been
unique
for
me
not
because
of
any
extraordinary
achievements
or
career-defining
moments.
The
year
has
been
unique
because
I
have
done
something
I
have
never
allowed
myself
to
do
before.
I
made
a
conscious
decision
to
take
a
pause
and
just
be
present.
As
lawyers
—
especially
those
of
us
in-house
—
the
pressure
to
do
more
and
to
prove
our
value
by
how
busy
we
are
is
often
present.
Meetings,
emails,
reports,
crisis
management
—
it
can
feel
endless.
But
this
year,
I
realized
that
I
don’t
always
have
to
hustle.
I
don’t
have
to
be
busy
for
the
sake
of
being
busy.
I
don’t
have
to
accept
every
opportunity
that
comes
my
way
to
write,
to
speak,
to
host,
or
to
moderate.
The
legal
profession,
in
general,
often
rewards
constant
activity
but
is
that
really
the
best
way
to
work?
Or
to
live?
This
year
I
decided
to
stop
buying
into
the
busy
to
be
busy
mindset.
I
stopped
rushing
through
each
task
just
to
get
to
the
next
one.
I
took
time
to
breathe
and
to
appreciate
where
I
am
and
what
I
have.
I
didn’t
just
fill
up
my
after-work
hours
with
“productive”
activities
—
I
made
space
for
the
things
that
really
matter.
That
change
in
mindset
allowed
me
to
spend
more
time
with
my
colleagues,
my
friends,
and
my
family.
-
It
gave
me
the
chance
to
support
colleagues
(and
their
families)
who
were
faced
with
personal
and
professional
challenges.
We
attended
events
together.
We
ate
together.
We
were
present
for
each
other. -
It
gave
me
the
chance
to
get
to
reconnect
and
spend
time
with
old
friends
and
deepen
bonds
with
new
friends. -
It
gave
me
the
chance
to
be
with
my
family
as
we
said
goodbye
to
my
grandmother
and
as
we
welcomed
two
more
babies
into
the
family.
These
moments
—
the
sad
ones
and
the
happy
ones
—
they
matter.
In
the
legal
profession,
we
are
taught
to
compartmentalize,
to
stay
professional
no
matter
what
and
to
go,
go,
go.
The
problem
is
when
you
are
always
on
the
go,
you
are
constantly
thinking
about
the
next
deadline
and
you
find
yourself
missing
the
important
moments
that
truly
shape
your
life.
Here’s
the
thing
about
those
important
moments
—
they
are
fleeting.
You
never
know
how
long
those
moments
will
last.
This
year
reminded
me
of
the
immense
value
in
simply
being
still,
in
allowing
yourself
to
experience
life
without
the
constant
hum
of
busyness.
2024
wasn’t
about
climbing
the
ladder
or
hitting
new
career
milestones.
It
was
about
living.
It
was
about
stepping
back,
taking
things
in,
and
appreciating
the
here
and
now.
I
didn’t
burn
out
this
year.
Instead,
I
gave
myself
permission
to
simply
be
—
and
it’s
made
all
the
difference.
I’m
grateful
for
the
time
I
spent
with
my
loved
ones
and
for
the
lessons
that
this
quieter
year
has
taught
me:
-
I
have
learned
that
success
isn’t
all
ways
measured
in
productivity
or
how
many
tasks
we
complete. -
I
have
learned
that
success
can
be
measured
by
the
richness
of
the
relationships
we
nurture,
the
personal
growth
we
experience,
and
the
balance
we
bring
into
our
lives.
The
work
will
always
be
there,
but
the
people
you
love
won’t
be.
The
deadlines
will
come
and
go,
but
the
memories
you
make
—
those
are
the
things
you
will
want
to
hold
on
to.
As
lawyers,
we
do
have
choices.
We
do
not
have
to
live
in
a
perpetual
state
of
hustle.
We
can
find
those
quiet
moments,
and
we
can
embrace
them.
And,
for
that,
I
am
truly
grateful.
Giving
ourselves
permission
to
pause,
reflect,
and
be
present
in
the
moment
is
one
of
the
most
valuable
choices
we
can
make
—
for
our
well-being
and
for
those
we
care
about.
Sometimes,
the
greatest
gift
you
can
give
yourself
is
the
space
to
enjoy
the
journey.
For
this,
I
am
also
grateful.
Lisa
Lang
is
an
in-house
lawyer
and
thought
leader
who
is
passionate
about
all
things
in-house.
She
has
recently
launched
a
website
and
blog
Why
This,
Not
That™
(www.lawyerlisalang.com
)
to
serve
as
a
resource
for
in-house
lawyers.
You
can
e-mail
her
at
[email protected]
,
connect
with
her
on
LinkedIn
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawyerlisalang/)
or
follow
her
on
Twitter
(@lang_lawyer).