A new year brings energy. Fresh beginnings. Renewed focus. The possibility of growth.
Growth can take many forms. It may mean expanding your career, improving your health, strengthening relationships, or pursuing greater independence. For me, one of the most meaningful intentions this year is simpler, though not necessarily easier: to practice more kindness toward others and toward myself.
That commitment has drawn me back to a book that sits on my coffee table, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. It is a deceptively simple work, yet profoundly wise. Through quiet illustrations and brief dialogue, it speaks to love, friendship, resilience, and hope.
In one exchange, the boy asks the mole what he wants to be when he grows up. The mole replies, “Kind.” In another moment, the horse reminds his friends that “nothing beats kindness… it sits quietly beyond all things.” Later, he adds, “We often wait for kindness… but being kind to yourself can start now.”
That last line resonates deeply. Being kind to oneself is often the most difficult practice of all.
Kindness Is Not Passive
Kindness is sometimes misunderstood as softness or surrender. It is neither.
Kindness requires intention. It demands discipline. It asks us to pause before reacting, to listen before responding, and to remember the humanity of others even when circumstances are complicated.
In the practice of family law, I see daily how essential this is.
People come to us during some of the most vulnerable seasons of their lives. Divorce, custody disputes, financial uncertainty, and significant transitions reshape not only households but identities. Emotions are heightened. Decisions carry long-term consequences.
In these moments, self-criticism can be relentless. Regret. Fear. Anger. Exhaustion.
Practicing kindness toward oneself during these times is not indulgent. It is stabilizing. It allows clearer thinking. It supports better decision-making. It protects long-term well-being.
Extending kindness outward, even in conflict, can also shift the tone of a case. Kindness does not eliminate boundaries. It strengthens them. It allows firm advocacy without unnecessary harm.
Practical Ways to Practice Kindness
Kindness does not require grand gestures. It often lives in ordinary choices:
• Rest when your body asks for it.
• Give yourself ten quiet minutes in the morning to reflect or breathe.
• Offer to help a neighbor with an errand.
• Leave a thoughtful review for a local business.
• Send a handwritten thank-you note.
• Tip generously when you are able.
• Pick up trash during your walk through the neighborhood.
• Volunteer with a local nonprofit.
• Donate blood through the Red Cross.
• Forgive yourself when you fall short of your own expectations.
• Prioritize sleep and nourishing meals.
• Say the compliment out loud instead of keeping it to yourself.
None of these actions are dramatic. But collectively, they shape communities. They strengthen families.
They reinforce connection.
Kindness and the Way We Practice Law
At McGill Law, we believe kindness, care, and human connection are not separate from the practice of law. They inform it.
We represent individuals and families across Omaha and Lincoln who are navigating change. Our responsibility is to provide strategic, thoughtful legal guidance. But it is equally important how we deliver that guidance.
We strive to approach each case with dignity, respect, and steadiness. Compassion and strong advocacy are not opposites. In fact, they often work best together.
When people feel heard and supported, they make stronger decisions for themselves and their families.
Beginning Now
A new year does not require reinvention. It invites intention.
Kindness toward others.
Kindness toward your future self.
Kindness toward the version of you who is still learning and growing.
If you are entering a season of transition and need experienced, compassionate legal guidance, you can schedule a consultation with Theresa.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Theresa Loughran is a Partner, Mediator and Collaborative Divorce Attorney, serving clients in Nebraska and Iowa. Her practices focuses on mediation, divorce and collaborative family law. Theresa helps clients navigate complex family transitions with compassion and insight, focusing on solutions that protect families, reduce conflict, and promote respectful resolution at every stage.