Page 9 - December 2018 | Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal

COLuMN BarJournal

JULY/AUGUST 2015

WHISPerS Of KIndneSS

Rebecca Ruppert McMahon

ne of my favorite things by Hon. Deval Patrick, former Governor • Inviting a junior attorney in your office
about this time of year is of Massachusetts, who has a deep history to collaborate with you on an article for
the parade of holiday cards with civil legal services. During his remarks, our Bar Journal or a presentation for our
that marches in soon after Governor Patrick championed Legal Aid’s spring CLE season so you can guide your
oThanksgiving and carries theme of creating ripple effects through less experienced colleague into taking
on to the New Year. It’s such fun picking up community-wide action in support of the most both the lead and the credit?
the mail, whether at my office or at home, vulnerable among us. While I appreciated • Giving a couple hours of time to
and discovering a holiday card from a friend, so much of what he said, I was particularly provide free legal advice to an
a family member or even a vendor. I don’t moved by his observations on speech. He emerging nonprofit that has tax issues
discriminate — I love them all. I read them shared that in our current climate, locally and or an artist who is uncertain about frOM THe CHIef exeCUTIve OffICer
all. And I display them all. In my office, I tape nationally, all too often hate speech is shouted how to protect her original works or
the cards to my window. At home, I have a while words of kindness are whispered. unemployed pro se divorce litigant in
custom card-hanging wreath made of ribbons It’s a powerful image that has continued to need of simple direction?
and wire that my daughter lovingly designed reverberate in my brain. • Serving as a constructive but benevolent
during her elementary school days. When We all know how easy it is to get lost in the mock trial judge during the high school
that wreath is filled, we start hanging cards in demands of the day. The impatience of our competitions coming up in January and
doorways. clients. The never-ending mountain of emails. February that may inspire more than one
Throughout December and into early The overly-critical boss or the isolation future lawyer?
January, I re-read the holiday messages and and stress of being a boss. A chronically • Simply inviting someone you know who
personal greetings that people take the time sick kid. An aging parent with dementia. has been going through a tough time to
to share, not to mention the “awwwwww” The depressing headlines that often seem join you at the New Lawyer’s Celebration
eliciting photos of new babies, decorated dogs, to go from bad to worse. There are lots of or a Section lunch-and-learn or an
newlyweds and more. Yes, I realize my love distractions in our daily lives that can prevent upcoming free movie night?
of holiday cards in a tech world makes me a whispers of kindness from breaking through • Participating in one of our monthly Hot
fossil, but so be it. Each and every card makes the noise and into our consciousness. Talks where potentially divisive issues are
me smile and, at least for a few moments, With Governor Patrick’s words replaying in discussed with civility, candor and more
forget whatever else may be happening around my head and the spirit of the holiday season than a little humor?
me. The simple act of reading someone’s in my heart, I’m challenging myself, and I I’ve got at least 1,000 more ideas on how
kind holiday greeting — even words mass hereby challenge you right along with me, to we can create a kindness ripple effect across
produced by American Greetings — lifts my resolve that we turn down the volume on the our Bar and beyond. Just call me — or come
spirits. Every single time. hate speech around us and turn up the volume meet me at the Bar.
On Monday this week — and by this week, I on words of kindness. On behalf of a profoundly grateful team of
mean the week of Thanksgiving, which means No, I don’t mean that artificial, saccharine CMBA staff members, we wish you and your
I am again tardy in submitting my article kindness that some people pull out for an family the happiest of holidays, as well as a
to our ever-so-patient Bar Journal Editor audience or for people of importance. I mean healthy, successful and kind 2019.
— I was privileged to attend the Legal Aid real kindness that can surface in the ordinary
th
Society’s 113 Annual Meeting. As always, a everyday things that happen around us and
great crowd turned out to support Executive that have the power to change one small part Becky Ruppert McMahon is the CEO of
Director Colleen Cotter, Board President of our world for the better. the CMBA. She, her daughter Natalie, dog
Karen Giffen, all the Legal Aid staff and, most The Bar can help all of us flex our kindness Beatrice and cat Fiona are all looking forward
importantly, those in our community who are vocal chords. Would you consider: to receiving some great cards this holiday
so passionately and ably served by Legal Aid. • Becoming a 3Rs volunteer who works season! She has been a CMBA member since
One of the high points of the event came with high school students to turn daunting 1995. She can be reached at (216) 696-3525
in the form of a keynote address delivered dreams of college and/or a career in reality? or rmcmahon@clemetrobar.org.
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