The Hare and The Tortoise

Richard McKenna, Inclusion and Diversity Director on the importance of mindfulness

The hare and the tortoise… many of us will be familiar with this tale. Over the last few weeks I have been thinking to myself, I need to be a bit more tortoise, a bit more mindful. We are so busy. We are so lucky to be busy, but I have this overwhelming sense that I am running, and I have forgotten to put running shoes on. I am jumping without warming up. I am hopping without thinking about where I am hopping from, or where I am hopping to.

So, here I go. I’m going to slow down. Throughout lockdown my note to my colleagues has been ‘breathe’. They may have been wondering what I was talking about. What I was trying to convey was the ability to live in the moment, to listen in the moment, to reflect, to respect and to respond. To try and remember the value of mindfulness.

A few months ago, the wonderful Chris Seel at The Law Society introduced me to a Youtube yoga programme.  Everyday, I have been starting my day with this mindful routine and yet, each day, I feel my pace quicken as I jump from one Teams call to a Zoom meeting, and back again. This week I am making a commitment to myself to do things differently. I am taking time in between each meeting to reflect on the insights that have been shared and to prepare myself for the next meeting. I am reminding myself to breathe.

There is always a tonne of ‘stuff’ to get done. I know I will get it all done, but I also know I’ll be useless if I fall over before I do. Just a thought and a simple commitment. I want to change the world to make it more inclusive for everyone, but if I am going to make sure it is for everyone, not just the hares, then I need to take it at a pace that works for everyone. We’ll get there – the hares and the tortoises – but let’s get there safe and let’s get there together.