2023 has been a tough year for many of us, I think. I am not sure we appreciated the effect of covid three years down the line. I think we may have rebound from it too quickly with a desperation to get our lives back to some sort of normality.

There was a need to be out seeing as many people as possible, a need to spend money in restaurants and bars, a need to buy houses – because we could with interest rates at a low– and sell houses because we it was a good time to do so. A need to go on holiday – many people still had dark memories of holidays being cancelled, a need to see a doctor in person, a need to get to university, a need to get married, a need to separate.    

And now…. I think there’s a necessity to slow down, to review, not the changes from covid, but the changes we have made to our lives since covid. If covid taught us anything, it’s that happiness can’t always be found in the material. It is in the people. With friends, family, acquaintances, and work buddies coming together since covid, we have managed to forge new lives, jobs and happy times.  For some it was a required reset. For others, happy with their existing lives, a reminder of the love they hold for their families and friends and a reason to continue the happy. 

Professionally, covid brought uncertainty, redundancy/furlough, and wfh. It vaulted us forwards to a ‘now normal’ life that sees us having virtual bank calls, paying for everything using our phones, zooming through appraisals, business meetings, science lessons and even birthday parties. But…. We missed the people. Because people like people. Yes, we saw each other on a screen, and we chatted via WhatsApp or phone – but the human touch and the visual of someone being sat in front of you seems to be something we crave as humans. I have heard so many times in the last 12 months…. Well, it’s not the same when you can’t look them properly in the eyes – you can’t get a feel for it…. And it’s true. A life with people, friendship and love is a happier life.

So, what now. My link with Box Legal is always to the team. Our Christmas meal was made extra special this year as not everyone had always been able to attend our monthly meetings. We had a full house for Christmas. It was wonderful. Genuinely liking the people, you work with and wanting to spend time with them is not everyone’s normal – but it is mine. The Box Legal team are happy, caring, funny and hard working – just pick up the phone to find out…

And 2024… we are 20. 20 years of providing ATE insurance to our industry. We are proud to continue to do so, we are proud to have such wonderful clients and we are proud to have made it through covid, out the other side with the knowledge that our people are the important part of our scheme. Wishing you all A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.