“Is it over yet?” we keep asking ourselves and each other. “Can’t things just go back to normal?” Not hardly. As the great lyricist Bob Dylan sang in 1963, “The Times They Are A-Changin”. Amid the first (and hopefully only) pandemic that we have all experienced, we are being put to the test every day. We are trying to stay connected in the face of social distancing. We are homeschooling while simultaneously trying to keep the doors to our businesses open and dollars coming in to take care of our employees…even though the majority of the state has been under stay-at-home orders. We have all been adapting and maintaining in the best ways we know… all while trying to keep our families and ourselves healthy.
And as you know, TCDLA has been adapting, maintaining, and retooling, too. There is no better evidence of this than Rusty Duncan. While this wasn’t Rusty as it has been in years past, this year was still a success thanks to our chief executive officer, Melissa Schank, and her staff, our course directors, and our speakers. And I’m sure the same will be said about the Declaration Readings next month. Be sure to start or get involved in your local Declaration reading whether it occurs virtually or in accordance with social distancing recommendations. It is that important. Especially now, as we define for ourselves and for our clients why the work we do is essential.
A final thought. Take time for yourself to be and stay well. In addition to the regular stresses of our daily pre-pandemic practices, this is an emotionally exhausting, stressful, overwhelming time. While the doors are closed and the phones may not be ringing as much lately, the new stresses are unique and very real. So, exercise, meditate, read, knit, watch baseball (when it starts back in July) — do something for you. Self-care is vitally important. We need to take care – both physically and mentally – of ourselves first so that we can take care of our families, friends, and clients. A great place to start is TCDLA’s seminar series Mindful Mondays.
Stay safe and well,
-Sarah
P.S. – And this month, again for the safety of our staff, members, and postal service workers, we are publishing the Voice online. We know the overwhelming majority of our readers prefer to have the hard copy of the Voice and it is our hope to return to that very soon. In the meantime, if you’d still like a hard copy, please let us know so that we can get it to you.
We are all in this pandemic together as humans and as criminal defense lawyers, but we each have our own unique experiences both personally and professionally. As courthouses across the state begin to reopen, please consider sharing your experience – whether uplifting, heart wrenching, or anything in between – with us. We are compiling stories of criminal defense lawyers from around the state to share in the upcoming issue this summer. Send submissions to .
