Are You A Tigger Or An Eeyore?

Today I offer a short note on optimism. In these recessionary times, the stress and aggravation of law practice seems amplified. It appears that we are in a perfect storm of financial and legal problems, and lawyers are, this time, having trouble with everyone else. In large law firms, layoffs are becoming commonplace. In solo practices, many of us are missing paychecks. We are becoming frugal out of necessity, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Struggling to make ends meet, like a terminal illness, requires us to focus on what is really valuable. Randy Pausch, facing a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, knew that, and, in the Last Lecture and his book, eloquently explained it to us. One of Randy's bits of wisdom was to advise us that it is better to be Tigger than Eeyore. After all, what real choice do we have? We can be happy and optimistic, even in the face of financial or medical disaster, or we can be depressed and sad. Happy and optimistic is more fun, and, in the final analysis, reality is reality, whichever we choose. Why not choose to have fun, and enjoy what life we have left? So, if you are a solo missing paychecks, cut back on things that cost money, and look for enjoyable things that don't. If you are laid off from a large firm, start a small one. Look for a new career that you enjoy. A law degree is always going to be helpful in any job. I have always tried to smile and say "If you aren't having fun, don't do it". Be a Tigger, not an Eeyore.

Comments

[Melanie Langenhan]

One of my most loved figures of Winnie-Pooh was Eeyore, and I never liked Tigger actually. Nevertheless, you are so right that we should do the things we love and have fun. At least, we should learn to love the things we do and make the best out of situations which aren't funny, like layoffs and illnesses. Alas, not everybody knows how to be a Tigger!
I like your article. A good reminder to be grateful for the good and overseen things we have.

[Miriam Robeson]

It's not only a matter of your own attitude, but how you affect the attitude of those around you. You can't help but smile and be uplifted by Tiggers (no matter how annoying), and you can't help but breathe a melancholy sigh around Eeyores. Better to be a Tigger and leave the world around you a little lighter.