I am back from my December hiatus and ready to meet the challenges and joys of 2018 with vigor. The good news is that I am finalizing a new book for millennial lawyers, which will be released later this year, and the bad news is that there is never enough time for everything I love to do. But, as you know, it is all about choices, and I will do my best.
Regarding my return to this blog almost two weeks into January, I have a good reason for what looks like dilatory behavior. This year the December holidays spilled over into January when my family members met up in Montana for wildlife sighting, skiing, touching base with our western roots, and good old family fun, including lots of stories and even more exaggerations. It was awesome, and it also made me think of all of you.
Taking a deep dive into nature has a way of putting things into perspective. In my case, that deep dive started at 6:30 AM in minus 18 degree weather in Yellowstone National Park. Our wildlife tour of the Lamar Valley took us to places where it is most possible to see elusive wolves this time of year, as well as many other species. However, I have to fess up that the wolves were the draw for all of us. They are amazing creatures, and the tour did not disappoint. In addition to wolves, we saw bison, moose, elk, deer, mountain goats, Big Horn sheep, and the adorable river otters. (No bears are available for viewing this time of year due to hibernation.)
The wolves, especially, reminded me of you — in a good way. Female wolves must survive in a pack that has only one alpha female just as you must survive in a profession that is not controlled by females and which often includes senior females who are resisting your rising role of influence. Here is where we can take a cue from the wolves. Even alpha female wolves continue to nurture their young and the young of deceased female wolves, and they also perform other important functions in socializing the pack and giving instruction during the hunt. In other words, they are very important for reasons quite apart from their role in breeding and producing pups to increase the population of the pack. They look out for each other, they mentor younger wolves, and they assume leadership roles in the interest of the entire pack. They appear to know that they all survive together.
Similarly, for women lawyers, it is not enough to just empower ourselves. We also must empower each other in order to survive.
There is something to learn from the wolves. I hope you get the opportunity one day.
