"If not you, then who?"

Some more #PandemicPonders for you.

The pandemic has brought about an unlikely friendship for me.

My neighbour. 

A 74-year-old lady originally from South Africa.

We share a bubble.

Sometimes we have morning coffees, sometimes we have an evening red wine and sometimes we leave each other little notes and treats.

I'm baking us some scones today and our biggest issue is whether it's butter, jam, cream or no butter, cream, jam...

I digress.

My neighbour has many quotes and quirky sayings, but one that really stood out to me was,

"If not you, then who?" 

I Googled to find an origin and apparently this has been said by a number of philosophers.

Google search shows up a variant of, "If not you, then who? If not now, then when?"

Apt.

I have heard of so many people redirecting their lives due to the pandemic. 

People on a clear career trajectory, suddenly made redundant (me included!)

The pandemic has removed the rush for many. 

Another quote I like is, “Once you stop rushing through life, you’ll be amazed by how much you have time for.” Again I don’t know the origin, but I really enjoy the sentiment.

Particularly now.

Will there ever be a rush hour again? Maybe the school rush? But I can’t imagine London Liverpool Street station being as rushed as it once was given that so many are now able to effectively work from home. 

I mean I’m sure it will be busy, but maybe now there will actually be a seat on the train?

(A girl can dream!)

I digress again.

With the removal of the rush and a sudden jolt of unemployment for many, I have heard and read stories of creativity.

The pandemic acting as a catalyst for entrepreneurial valour.

A “side hustle” (usually something people are passionate about or enjoy) becoming a main income stream!

I'm not sure if anyone has read about Keith Tiplady? Keith was a project manager at Triumph motorcycles, but lost his job as a result of the pandemic.

Keith is now the CEO and master chocolatier for his own business Indulgent Chocolates.

Keith isn’t alone. There are many lockdown entrepreneurs.

Charlie Pears-Wallace, Mya Leonie Wander, Caroline Haegeman, Thomas Parkes, Natalie James, Kavin Wadhar, Matt Poole - to name a few!

I am mentioning Keith and his chocolate venture because, as many of my contacts will know, chocolate is a diet staple for me.

I also just wanted to share some hope.

Some good in a world that right now seems filled with death rate statistics, vaccine effectiveness percentages (of vaccines I can't even pronounce!) and a question mark over summer 2021.

My personal take on the pandemic is this:

The whole world is in a chrysalis

(some caterpillars

have decided not to cocoon).

We can either emerge into the new normal as a moth

or

a butterfly!

??

Navigating a global pandemic is an achievement in itself, but being able to see it as a catalyst for positive change is (as I like to say) wucking fonderful!

So back to the start, "If not you, then who?"

Don't let a moment flutter by!

If you have been made redundant, if you have been furloughed and you are feeling a little bit meh! Pick up a book, have a browse of Pinterest, look for signs, try new things!

Have a play around with free software! Enjoy discovering! Maybe you were on a path that wasn't meant for you, now is your chance to rethink and reinvent!

Personally, I have set up a (very) small business called Doodler- Doer! My most recent achievement was seeing a logo I designed on Spotify! A podcast about Dutch politics! So random, but I have opened my mind to opportunities! For me, the designing is just for fun. A hobby that I have discovered as a result of not rushing so much!

I am a solicitor.

One year post qualification.

A feat that at times I thought I'd never achieve, but there is so much more to me than law.

The pandemic has given me a breather from law.

An opportunity to think about what I enjoy most about the legal profession, where my strengths lie, what makes me tick.

I enjoy networking, meeting new people, sharing stories, helping people (cliché I know).

I enjoy technology. I like talking Crypto and DLT! Coinbase or Kraken? I'm interested in the evolution of technology and the reactivity of regulation and compliance. It may be boring to some, but genuinely fascinates me! The legal world isn't able to be proactive and keep up with the pace of technological advancement.

I’ve been reading more (I recommend Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers! V thought-provoking), learning (un poco Espa?ol) and writing (sorry, not sorry)! I have some new career moves pending, but for the moment, if you are looking for a sign then I will just leave this here...

If you read this far, thank you!

Sending you positive vibes and all the good things!

SJ x