A New Year's Resolution: Stay Out Court

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​Millions of Lawsuits, Billions of Dollars
As we settle into this new year, numbers are falling down around our heads again. 2016 has been kicked aside. We've somewhat avoided the fiscal cliff; now we'll be jumping up against the debt ceiling. Added to all that are the numbers telling us that more than 15 million lawsuits will be filed in our state courts as this new year begins to grow old. People will sue and our courts will once again be flooded with the tides of human conflict. Ours is a nation and a society that seems to thrive on conflicts and animosity. As a result, Americans will spend record-breaking billions on legal fees and court costs during the year 2017.

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​Courts Become Weapons of Vengeance
Vengeance sometimes gets the best of us. No one is immune to anger. Humans are emotional beings and when we get offended, we tend to lash out. Anger is a destructive emotion. Lawsuits are triggered by anger. When we get pissed, we sue. We use the courts and legal system to vent our anger. There are even those whose sole mission in life seems to be destroying others. This mindset will continue to wreak havoc on our lives and on our society. The good news: With a New Year, we can resolve to change, to have a new attitude about the way our lives are spent.

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Making the Right Choices
One of the most powerful realizations in life is the fact that we have choices regarding how we feel. We do not have to react in a specific way to any given event or situation. When a reckless driver cuts us off, we have the power to let it go. We have the choice to not get angry, ensuring that we arrive safely at our destinations. If a customer becomes unreasonable or disruptive, we can choose to remain calm and collected, ensuring more business in the future. When our spouses or significant others start an argument, we can choose a positive response. Many disputes can usually be negotiated and settled without having to set foot in court. Cooler heads can prevail. Really, it's not that hard. 

​Tolerance, Kindness, Serenity Should Accompany Any Age
As the years pass, where do we want our minds to be? The practice of tolerance does require some discipline. Our hopes should embrace the serenity brought about by tolerance and kindness. Road rage at age 70, or any age, is a ridiculous sight. With serenity is how elders should live; cultivating serenity at any age is worth doing. With tolerance and kindness, we can move away from being a litigious society. Imagine how many billions we can save in attorney fees and court costs by simply letting go of the trivial. Aren't there other more needy venues to which our nation should funnel all that treasure, all that time?

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​Physical Health and Mental Health
Just the mention of a lawsuit puts stress on a body. Stress has been linked to cancer, heart disease, and even the common cold. Put in some meditation or prayer time on a daily basis. To treat stress or depression, I understand that exercise, even just a daily brisk walk, does better than any expensive pill concoction dreamed up by giant pharmaceutical manufacturers. Combine your stress management and exercise needs with tai chi, yoga, or similar regimens. Diets high in sugars or carbohydrates can actually cause stress or depression. Don't wind up in a courtroom just because you have a poor diet or don't exercise. That's not the way you want to live; is it?
 

​Professional Curse
As a lawyer, of course I make money from conflict, but at least I can help prevent high-noon shoot-outs in the public square. Yes, without conflict, I’d be out of a job. The curse of this profession is obvious. Animosity and intolerance drive the legal system and keep lawyers employed. But I see what we can become as a people if we choose to be more understanding and less confrontational. I see how we can evolve and tolerate diversity. And I can see the innate goodness in others. I also see how we can elevate and challenge ourselves to become better than last year.

Not Trite, Very True
Let’s start fresh this New Year. Let’s resolve to become better than we are. Many time-worn resolutions crop up this time each year, so many and so often repeated that they even seem trite. But, they are time-worn because they have proven to be true down through the ages. We can’t get rid of conflicts; anger has always been a part of the human experience; but we can remember that we have a choice. We can choose to improve or we can choose to stay basically the same. If staying basically the same made you happy last year, so be it. But if you can imagine a better self, a better society, then resolve to change. If a massive change should happen in our society, I'd gladly give up my job. Perhaps I could teach.