This week marks some significant change. Again! The state has indicated we are still on track for its grand reopening set for tomorrow. There is a lot of confusion about what that means and when, and if, masks must still be worn. The new rules are meant to align with federal guidance, so masks will sometimes still be required even if you’re vaccinated. Unvaccinated people will be expected to keep wearing masks indoors. The state’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Board withdrew its update from last week, readopting the Emergency Temporary Standards and is expected to issue new guidance later this month. Things are a bit uncertain, to say the least.
As lawyers, we don’t tend to like “uncertain.” People hire us to give them answers and guidance, so not having those at the ready can leave us feeling unsettled. In fact, I recently read that neuroscience research shows that uncertainty registers in the brain like an error — it needs to be corrected before we can feel comfortable again! That’s why tomorrow’s State of the Court Address with Presiding Judge Lorna A. Alksne will be so important to help us lessen the uncertainty and figure out how we need to approach filings, proceedings, hearings, or trials as our courts reopen this week too. I would be remiss if I did not say how immensely grateful I am to our San Diego Superior Court for always being so accessible to the Bar and working with us to provide this program to the entire San Diego legal community.
As we step through the coming days and weeks, I’m going to work on practicing patience, with myself, with the world around me, and with others. I found this great article last year which I’d like to share with you — I hope you can take something from it. It’s called How to be Patient with Yourself and Others in a Changing World by Dr. Rochelle Perper. My favorite take-away was to focus on progression, not perfection. If you read it, I’d love to hear about what spoke to you.
And as long as you’re taking the time to give feedback, I wanted to highlight our SDCBA Suggestion Box on our webpage which is so much more that “just” a suggestion box. Not only can you provide feedback and ideas, you can also share your expertise and sign up as a speaker or writer. Make sure to visit sdcba.org and give it a click!
Yours,
Renée N.G. Stackhouse
2021 SDCBA President
Reading now: The Goddess Book by Nancy Blair
Listening to: What Have You Done for Me Lately by Janet Jackson
What are you reading or listening to? Tag us #sdlaw #sdcba