Looking back, my law-student self was obsessed with everything I was not doing right. A healthy dose of self criticism may be inevitable because law school is, after all, a place to grow and improve. But I made the mistake of being consumed in it and let many opportunities for joy slip away.

I hope that, with the help from Bridgette and Vivek, you will be a wiser law student than I was. Let hope, not fear, guide you--more so, in this tough, covid era. Take it one step at a time and celebrate each other. Give yourself a generous pat in the back every time you do something right. I know you deserve one now, because you found yourself in this seminar.

 

If you’ve experienced this like I have, I wish for us all to work on eliminating these two reasons. 

 

1.     We never have to “justify” taking time for ourselves. No matter what it is we’re doing, self-preservation is a necessary step to doing anything. Get rid of excuses, it will always be the right time to check-in with yourself and it will save you time/effort/energy later on, which leads us to . . .

2.     If we’re nervous or scared about how we’ll respond to these questions, that means something needs to change. It may be that we’re feeling okay, but if we’re not, having the courage to admit that and adjust will give us the strength we need to make changes as necessary. 

 

We will always be learning, growing, making mistakes, achieving successes, and thinking about what’s next. By studying tools on how to do this most effectively for you, I hope that we all leave this course with a lifelong commitment to making our self-care a top priority in our lives, and being okay with that. 

 

E.G. Self-care could mean taking the time to find what you fills you with joy. For example, as a baby, I would freak out over ice cream (pictured below). Find what gives you that childhood joy and chase it! 

 

“Ask yourself: is what I’m doing helping me or harming me?”

 

I cannot tell you enough how much I enjoyed and learned from this class. Too often in law school, I let the goals and fears of others cloud my own objectives and feelings. Bridgette and Vivek’s seminar taught me how to live with intention—and most importantly, my own intention. It’s not always easy. There are days that I stray from the path. But it is 100% worth it, 100% of the time. 

 

I wish you the vulnerability to find what you want and the resilience to block out ambivalence and negativity. I hope you listen to every word Bridgette and Vivek say—they are a shining light of joy and warmth. Enjoy the semester!