As this year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting once again, but this time, the reflection feels heavier, deeper, and more urgent. Last year, I wrote about learning to pause, to be present, to step away from the relentless need to be busy.
This year has taught me something equally important: what we do matters. Not in the résumé sense. Not in the “look at how much I accomplished” sense. It matters because our actions leave ripples. Our presence leaves marks. The choices we make, even the quiet ones, have impact.
This lesson didn’t come easily.
In January, I lost a close friend and colleague. She was 38. She was far too young. She was far too good. She was far too full of life and purpose to be gone so soon. She was the kind of person who believed fiercely in relationships, connection, community, and in supporting the underdog every chance she got. She never hesitated to lift someone up, to speak up for what was right, or to give someone the benefit of the doubt when the world was too ready to dismiss them.
Losing her made me ask myself: What am I doing with the time I have? How am I showing up for others? What impact do I want to leave?
This year, I tried to honor her by living the values she embodied.
- I mentored students who were unsure of themselves, but filled with potential.
- I taught law school and poured into my students, not just doctrine, but belief in themselves, belief in the profession we are still trying to shape.
- I showed up for people who needed space, silence, or simply someone to sit with them without judgment.
- I leaned into the hard moments, doing what was right even when it was uncomfortable or inconvenient.
- I challenged people (gently, honestly) to be the best version of themselves because she always challenged me to be mine.
And what have I gotten in return?
So much more than I ever expected.
I have learned about people’s stories and the struggles they carry quietly. I have learned about resilience. I have learned about how much a small act (a conversation, a check-in, an opportunity) can mean to someone who needed it more than you realized.
Most of all, I have learned how lucky I am. And for that, I continue to be grateful.
Because here is the truth I kept relearning this year: gratitude grows when you give it away. Paying it forward isn’t just about helping others; it’s about expanding your own understanding of the world. It deepens your empathy. It sharpens your perspective. It reminds you, especially in a profession that rewards busyness and ego, that your real legacy isn’t found in your output.
It’s found in your impact.
This year wasn’t about doing less, like last year. It was about doing more of what matters, more of what leaves people better than you found them, more of what reflects who you want to be when no one is keeping score.
And again, the legal profession doesn’t always make that easy. We are taught to move fast, to compartmentalize, to win, to perform, but slowing down last year made space for other things this year. Purpose.
Intention. Service. Connection.
I am grateful for the students who trusted me enough to let me guide them.
I am grateful for people who allowed me to step into their lives during difficult seasons.
I am grateful for the quiet moments that reminded me of what, and who, truly matters.
I am grateful for the chance to carry forward the spirit of someone who taught me so much simply by how she lived.
And I am grateful for the reminder that life is fragile, fleeting, and far too short to waste on things that don’t build others up.
We don’t get to control how much time we have, but we do get to control how we use it and who we become because of it.
This year, I chose gratitude. I chose presence. I chose impact. I chose to pay it forward.
For this, and for all the lessons that came wrapped in both joy and grief-
I am, still, deeply grateful.
Lisa Lang is an accomplished in-house lawyer and thought leader dedicated to empowering fellow legal professionals. She offers insights and resources tailored for in-house counsel through her website and blog, Why This, Not That™ (www.lawyerlisalang.com). Lisa actively engages with the legal community via LinkedIn, sharing her expertise and fostering meaningful connections. You can reach her at lisa@lawyerlisalang.com, connect on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawyerlisalang/).
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