A Hike? A Marathon? What is life like in 2021?

It’s February 2021! We had all hoped this year would be a new dawn! Alas, even more uncertainty! But, don’t look so deflated just yet.

In 2020, life and work as we have known it slowed down and, in some respects, came to a grinding halt. All of a sudden we couldn’t run at the lightning speed that 21st Century humans have become accustomed to or at any speed whatsoever.

A marathon is often used as an analogy for life but if you ask me, the COVID-19 pandemic has made life feel a lot like an intense hiking trip. Have you ever been on one? Let me walk you through what I’ve experienced:

The hikes usually start off with a bunch of early birds happily chirping away the first few kilometers. This is usually because this part of the trail is well-trodden and easy to navigate. Relatively smooth and hardly any real elevation.

The trail, however, narrows and becomes increasingly shrouded by overgrown grass and entangled branches. If, for some reason, a hiker doesn’t notice the rising elevation, their legs will be sure to get the memo. The initial chatter starts to fade. In that moment nothing matters more than making sure that they don’t slip, misstep, or worse, cramp and twist an ankle. The hikers get present, taking in the breathtaking view the heightened position has gifted them.

The flip side is that the hikers are now tired. Its a steep climb up and a long way back. A literal rock and hard place. They may have even run into a few dead ends and or ended up on trails that don’t lead to where they intend on going. The real adventure and test of endurance has now set in. They get edgy and opt for moments of complete silence to avoid a squabble. In my opinion, the moments of silence are crucial and fuel what happens next.

The hikers start to find a renewed energy. They are no longer chirpy little birds. They are now a flock, calling out to each other, making sure that their steps are in sync and that not a single person has been left too far behind. What now matters most is that they all get to the top of the hill.

At the top of the hill they feel invincible! Everything they can see below has shrunk and doesn’t seem as challenging as it did before. The cuts and bruises suddenly feel less sore – a trophy to show for their grit. Dozens of Instagram worthy pictures are taken. It has been a day time well spent.

Maybe for some time now you’ve been coasting in your career or life in general, this might not cut it in 2021. Pre-pandemic we could get away with being mechanical and detached. After all, its a well trodden trail, there isn’t much effort or concentration needed there.

The full proof 5 or 10 year plan has now been obscured by uncertainty. The two (seemingly) separate worlds of work and home are all tangled up into one and are harder to navigate. We have encountered some dead ends in trying to adapt. We can’t go back to ‘normal life’ just yet and pushing forward just seems to get more complicated by the day.

We started #DearRookie because we want to see a time when lawyers of varied experience move as a flock. Now more than ever we need to hurdle together, push a little harder and make sure that no one is left too far behind. The ones that are ahead helping the others to avoid sliding rocks.

Frustrations are bound to come. Differing opinions are the order of the day in our line of work. It is our hope that we’ll all take some ‘moments of silence’ to introspect.

We all want the same thing. To get to the top without the regrets of not having enjoyed the journey! To be present in the moment and not miss opportunities for growth. To savour the moment and embrace the joy of discovery. The joy of marking out a trail. What a legacy!

We have been running on our individual paths and they have brought us so far. What if, even just for the here and now, we allow ourselves to walk with others!? My guess!? We might just fall in love with hiking.

So is life like a marathon or a hike?! Well, the jury’s still out on that one!

Emmanuela