’Tis the Season: Be a Good Human!

PRESIDENT'S COLUMN

BY DAVID COURREGES, UNIVERSITY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

It has been a couple of years since we’ve gotten to experience the most wonderful time of year in all of its glory, but from what I can recall we have a lot to look forward to. There is, of course, the annual Thanksgiving Day game between Texas and Texas A&M, the lighting of the magnificent Capitol tree, and walking the Trail of Lights. Oh, and I cannot wait to see A Charlie Brown Christmas on ABC. Some traditions just can’t be broken!

Wait! I am sorry. I have just been informed that it has been ten years since Justin Tucker and the Longhorns last played the Aggies. I am also told that the Capitol tree is now a “cone,” we’re driving the Trail of Lights again (so retro!), and the Peanuts Gang is now streaming on Apple TV. This has undoubtedly been the longest two years of my life!

Fear not, Linus Van Pelt! I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, for the spirit and the joy of the Season remains! We do live in Austin, Texas, after all, where a decades-old tradition can be created over lunch.

We can still take a spin under the Zilker Tree. We can be dazzled by the light show at Mozart’s (nightly beginning in November). We can shop at the Junior League of Austin’s A Christmas Affair (Nov. 17 – 21), still one of my favorites! There’s ice skating at Whole Foods, A Christmas Carol at the Zachary Scott Theatre (Nov. 17 – Jan. 2), and The Nutcracker at the Long Center (Dec. 4 – 23). As I already mentioned, we can also drive the Trail of Lights, just as we did in the 80s (Nov. 27 – Dec. 31) or drive down to Johnson City and witness the wonderland that is the PEC Holiday Lights (Nov. 27 – Jan. 3). Most importantly, we can still all partake in my most favorite Austin tradition: spreading joy and love to others, or maybe more appropriately, practicing being a good human!

What does it mean to be a good human? For that I go to my daughter. She would say, being kind, being thoughtful, and doing the right thing. The phrase has become somewhat of a motto within our family. It began when our friend Shannon gave us T-shirts with the simple, yet powerful, statement and continues in trying to honor the phrase in everything that we do. To me the concept is the very spirit of the holiday season.

So how can you spread love and joy? The first thing that comes to my mind is this thought: Be there for others. This season of hope and happiness can be, for many, just the opposite. We are engaged in a profession with heightened feelings of stress and anxiety; we have chosen to take on the burdens of others. This difficult task can often be overwhelming. Sometimes a friendly and understanding voice can help. Be that voice. Of course, the Texas Lawyers Assistance Program (tlaphelps.org, 1.800.343.TLAP) is available if a safe and confidential resource is ever needed.

You can also volunteer. While the opportunities in Austin are too numerous to list, I once again enlist my daughter, the researcher laureate of the family, to give us her favorite Austin-area charities that would love to be the recipients of your volunteer time. You will find her recommendations following this article.

Be thankful for others. We cannot do what we do within a profession or an organization without others. With that sentiment in mind, I wish to thank our outstanding team at the Austin Bar and Austin Young Lawyers Associations, our coworkers, and our families! To each of you, our members and volunteers, thank you for all that you do, especially your dedication to the legal profession and the community in which we live. I appreciate each and every one of you. You are valued and loved. To all: Have very happy, healthy, and safe holidays. I look forward to seeing you very soon!

(from left): Ashlyn (niece), David Courreges, Brooklyn (niece), McKenna (daughter), Cera (niece), and Savannah (niece).

McKENNA’S LIST OF CENTRAL TEXAS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

• Central Texas Food Bank has weekend and weekday volunteer opportunities helping prepare food donations for distribution and distributing food at mobile food pantries. (centraltexasfoodbank.org)

• Caritas of Austin has volunteer opportunities available including serving a nutritious lunch, working with clients directly to achieve their life goals, or supporting staff members. (caritasofaustin.org/ get-involved/volunteer)

• Brighter Bites – Austin delivers fresh food and education materials to families. Volunteers help distribute produce boxes in Austin. (brighterbites.org/volunteer)

• Trinity Center is dedicated to supporting Austin’s homeless population. They have a small staff of six who rely heavily on volunteers to support their mission. (trinitycenteraustin. org/volunteer)

• Generation Serve provides community volunteering opportunities to youth and their families. (generationserve.org/ familyvolunteering.html)

• Austin Allies, established on the notion of being kind to others, provides opportunities for families to volunteer throughout Austin by partnering with organizations that need the most help and support. (austinallies.org)

• BookSpring is a longtime partner of the Austin Bar and helps make our Courthouse Book Initiative a success. Volunteer to help sort and distribute reading materials for kids. (bookspring.org/en/ support/volunteer)

• Austin Pets Alive, another longtime Austin Bar favorite, needs a myriad of volunteers to help ensure the safety and security of our lost pet population. (austinpetsalive. org/volunteer)

• Austin Wildlife Rescue is dedicated to assisting and rehabilitating our area’s wildlife and has opportunities to volunteer throughout the year. (austinwildliferescue.org/ volunteer)

• Keep Austin Beautiful promotes safe and fun volunteer activities focused on Love Where You Live Day, which occurs every second Saturday of the month. (keepaustinbeautiful.org/ volunteer-opportunities)

• Breast Cancer Resource Center of Texas relies on volunteers to improve the lives of thousands of women living in Central Texas. Opportunities range from taking and making calls to clients, delivering vital resources, and volunteering at fundraising events. (bcrc.org/ volunteer/)

• American Youthworks provides young people with opportunities to build careers, strengthen communities, and improve the environment. Volunteers tutor, mentor, speak, and serve during a day of service. (americanyouthworks.org/support/volunteer-3/) AL

David Courreges is senior corporate counsel at University Federal Credit Union.