Ferris Bueller You’re My Hero

“Life Moves Pretty Fast. If You Don’t Stop And Look Around Once In A While, You Could Miss It.”  

Ferris Bueller, 1986

As a proud member of Generation X and child of the 80’s, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off rates as one of my all-time favourite movies.  Written, directed and produced by the legendary John Hughes, the film takes the relatively simple premise of a popular high-school kid skipping school with his best friend and girlfriend and turns it into not only a great comedy, but also tries to convey some important life lessons.

The film is full or memorable quotes (Bueller…., Bueller….., Bueller….) but the one above is far and away that most associated with the film.  It’s a simple but important reminder that life is complicated and goes by very quickly, so taking time out now and again to appreciate it is important.

I have always loved the quote, but to be honest pretty much ignored it for most of my life.  Once you get on the hamster wheel of your career it’s very difficult to get step off and even more difficult to realise that you are simply running faster and faster and not really getting where you want to go.

Until now.  With the recent departure from my last role and the resulting requirement that I cease practice for a while (how good is gardening leave?!), some time off has been forced upon me.  No emails, no phone calls, no days full of back to back meetings.  It has certainly been a great opportunity to slow down a little, actually spend more time with my family, spend more time with friends, join the gym and simply appreciate the little things in life a bit more.  I have yet to lie my way into a hard to get restaurant booking, sing on top of a float making its way down Queen Street, or destroy a vintage Ferrari - but hey it's still early days…..

“The Question Isn’t ‘What Are We Going To Do?’ The Question Is ‘What Aren’t We Going To Do?'”

That’s not to say I am sitting around the house in a dressing gown doing nothing.  Today I attended my first lecture at the University of Auckland, where I am studying history papers during my enforced down time.  History has always been a huge area of personal interest for me.  It was essentially impossible to squeeze any history papers into a BCom/LLB degree back in the early 90s, so the opportunity to take the time to do what I had always been interested in is great.  Look forward to future commentary on the importance of the French Revolution on 19th and 20th century political systems and what we can learn from mediaeval European culture and identity! 

From there it will be back into the fray of tax advice.  Exactly how and when is yet to be determined, but I look forward to returning refreshed, re-energized and with a fresh perspective on my career and approach to life overall.

“You’re Still Here? It’s Over. Go Home.”