Bob Norton Consulting - February 2022

Bob Norton Consulting - February 2022

NortonAccountingServices.com 985-640-6072 [email protected] FEBRUARY 2022 NORTON NEWSLETTER EASE OF MIND • AVAILABILITY • FLEXIBILITY • INDIVIDUAL APPROACH • EXPERIENCE • TAX SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES THE REAL ESTATE TAX PRO ™

4 Life Lessons Learned From ‘Forrest Gump’ ‘MAMA ALWAYS SAID…’

FROM THE DESK OF Bob Norton

I have a couple of announcements to start the New Year!

Congratulations, Madeline! Madeline Campbell, who’s on our bookkeeping team, passed the notary exam and I swore her in this week. Now we have two notaries in our office, as I’m also a notary. As the firm grew, we found more clients needing simple documents notarized. So, I asked Madeline if she was interested in becoming a notary, and she was excited to complete the process. We’ll have other team members become notaries in the future. For those of you outside Louisiana, a notary in our state is able to draft and notarize simple legal documents as proscribed by the legislature, such as simple wills, powers of attorney, and affidavits. So, this is also another service we can provide our clients. Welcome, Taylor DiNapolis! Taylor is our newest team member. She joined us at the beginning of January. Taylor is completing her accounting degree at Southeastern Louisiana University. While she completes her degree, she will be working part time, learning what it takes to work in a

It’s hard to believe that “Forrest Gump” first hit big screens more than 25 years ago. The movie stars Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump, a simple-minded but good-hearted individual who unintentionally influenced important historical events. The movie did phenomenally well and won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor. Now, 28 years later, the movie is still seen on television and even spawned a successful restaurant chain, Bubba Gump, with locations in major tourist destinations across the country. While the story of Forrest is incredibly touching and brilliantly performed, the film has maintained its relevance for 25-plus years because of its many life lessons, like these four memorable moments. Try new things often. As humans, we are creatures of habit. We like to stick to regular schedules and do things that we find comfortable. When removed from our comfort zones, we can experience tremendous growth. In the movie, Forrest never backs away from trying something new. When he was recovering from a gunshot wound he sustained in Vietnam, he’s introduced to the game of Ping-Pong. He quickly discovered he was a natural and was eventually brought on board the All-American Ping-Pong team as part of the Ping-Pong diplomacy program. We can all learn from this example and do our best to try new experiences, food, and activities. You never know where your true talents lie.

CPA’s office and helping the team with special projects.

–Bob Norton

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Money does not necessarily bring happiness. We’ve all heard that money does not bring happiness, but it’s a difficult concept for many of us to grasp. Throughout the course of the movie, Forrest earns a tremendous amount of money, but despite all that wealth, he still loses his mother and the love of his life, Jenny. When he faces these traumatic events, he’s completely grief-stricken, and no amount of money can bring back the people he loves. Be optimistic even when things get tough. During the movie, Forrest never gets pessimistic, regardless of the situation. One of the greatest examples of Forrest’s intense optimism comes from his relationship with Lieutenant Dan. Dan was wounded in Vietnam but was saved by Forrest. Dan develops a pessimistic outlook on life because he did not die on the battlefield and became an amputee. Forrest continued to support him for years. When they went into the shrimping business together, things started to look grim, but Forrest never dropped his optimism. They were soon gifted with an abundance of shrimp after a hurricane. It’s an important reminder to always try to find the silver lining in any bad situation, no matter how dire it appears. Life is like a box of chocolates. To put it simply, tomorrow is never guaranteed. We can make all the plans in the world only for something to happen and our plans

fall apart. When you open a box of chocolates, you get a variety of flavors but can’t tell what they are until you bite into them. Life is very similar. We don’t know what each day will necessarily bring us when we wake up. Sometimes we just have to dive in and be ready for whatever opportunity presents itself. Over the past 28 years, “Forrest Gump” has left a lasting impact on viewers from multiple generations. Each time you watch it, you may pick up yet another life lesson. By watching the movie with an open mind, you’ll learn the importance of compassion and optimism and the power of love.

3 OUTSIDE DATE NIGHT IDEAS You, Me, and the Great Outdoors

Did your significant other leave it up to you to come up with a romantic date idea this Valentine’s Day? Luckily for you, there are tons of date activities that are easy and affordable for you to

in a location where you can easily see the stars, take advantage of the peaceful privacy with your loved one. Maybe you’ll spot a shooting star you can wish upon while you’re out there!

enjoy with Mother Nature. While the possibilities are endless outside, here are three popular outdoor date ideas!

Hit up a drive-in movie.

If you’re looking for a way to be extra comfy while still sitting outside, a drive- in movie is the best destination! The best part about a drive-in is that you can view both new and old movies as well as bring your own snacks and drinks. If the weather permits

Watch the sunset.

Sunsets are intuitively romantic: The sun paints the sky in calming reds, pinks, and purples, creating a beautiful backdrop. While watching the sunset, you and your partner can have a romantic picnic with the sky in view. Or you can embrace the scenery with your other half and create memories you both will never forget.

and if you have a truck, you can load the bed with blankets and pillows and have a cozy night while watching a movie.

These date night ideas are perfect for Valentine’s Day, but they don’t have to be limited to just the holiday! You can also consider these for any date that you have with your significant other. Nothing brings couples closer like being together with nature.

Go stargazing.

If you live in the city, stargazing is a good chance to escape for the night and get away from the light pollution in the city. If you already live

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Based on Your Zodiac Sign THE PERFECT BOOK GENRE Zodiac signs — they tell us our moods, our values, our personality traits, and our best relationship partners. But what about our book genre choices? Whether you trust the astrology behind the Zodiac or scoff at it, you should give these picks a try!

Aries Notoriously, those born under the Aries sign are bold and ambitious. For a book that matches your ferocity, an action, adventure, or good drama would suit you the best. Taurus If you’re a Taurus, you rely on stability and likely have the patience to get through a classic novel. Alternately, a mystery is a great way to deviate from the norm and get some mayhem in your life! Gemini Geminis are considered to be social creatures, so short story collections offer a great read. This way, you can pop in and out of the book as you please without compromising the story. Cancer Cancers can be curious, compassionate, and extremely sensitive. They often spend time thinking about the past and might enjoy a good history read. Pisces If you’re a Pisces, you likely have a vivid imagination that can run away with

itself sometimes. Embrace that with a good fantasy or magical realism book for a bit of a dreamy escape. Aquarius Those who are an Aquarius are known to be innovative and independent thinkers. If this is you, science-fiction genres will hit the spot. Capricorn Capricorns are extremely realistic and strong-willed. Thus, true stories are usually a home run! If nonfiction doesn’t do it for you, feed your goal-oriented side and dive into some self-help books. Sagittarius Sagittarians love to have a good time and laugh, and you can never go wrong with a humorous novel. Or, if you’re feeling a little more serious, you can embrace your inner wanderer and opt for a book that involves adventure. Scorpio Scorpios are mysterious and even take pleasure in being spooked. The

chilling emotions that come along with a good horror book are enough to keep you hooked. Libra Libras enjoy balance and intellect and may enjoy finding the messages behind the lines of poetry or diving into literary fiction for an escape. Virgo If you are a Virgo, you’re probably very factual and analytical. A book that dishes out all the facts is sure to capture your attention, so give nonfiction a try! Leo Leos sometimes have a hard time revealing their true emotions, but they love a grand story. To tickle your fancy, a romance or high fantasy novel is a great choice. While our signs may not define us as individuals, it’s still fun to see if they have any accuracy in picking out a good read!

Take a Break!

Cherry Cordial Cake Balls

Inspired by TasteofHome.com

Ingredients

Directions

• 1 package fudge marble cake mix • 1 1/4 cups and 3

1. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, 1 1/4 cups coffee, canola oil, and eggs. Beat on low for 30 seconds, then on high for 2 minutes. 2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. 3. Pour batter into a greased, floured 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Bake for 30–35 minutes and let cool. 4. In a small bowl, combine cherries, brandy, cherry preserves, and remaining coffee. 5. Crumble cake. Add frosting and cherry mixture. Combine and shape into 1-inch balls. 6. Melt chocolate coating, following package directions. 7. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Dip balls into coating. Let them stand on the paper for 20 minutes, then serve!

tbsp brewed coffee, divided • 1/4 cup canola oil • 3 eggs • 10 oz maraschino cherries, stemmed, drained, and chopped • 1/3 cup brandy • 1/4 cup cherry preserves • 1 cup chocolate frosting • 1 lb chocolate candy coating, chopped

BEADS CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL FOOTBALL

HISTORY LUNAR PINK PRESIDENTS

SWEETHEART TIGER VALENTINE VIOLET

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Bob PAGE 1 Life Lessons to Learn From ‘Forrest Gump’ PAGE 1 Include Mother Nature in Your Next Date PAGE 2 Best Book Genre Based on Your Zodiac PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Cherry Cordial Cake Balls PAGE 3 Humpback Whales: The Heroes of the Sea PAGE 4

Hauser told the Daily Mirror, “I’ve spent 28 years underwater with whales and have never had a whale so tactile and so insistent on putting me on his head, belly, or back, and most of all, trying to tuck me under his huge pectoral fin … I was sure that it was most likely going to be a deadly encounter.” Hauser didn’t know the whale wanted to protect her until she returned to her team’s research vessel. This is when she noticed the tiger shark creeping nearby. This isn’t the first time a humpback whale has intervened to help another creature. In fact, the humpback’s altruism has been well-documented over the years to show how they benefit other species at their own cost. In 2009, Robert Pitman took a photo of a humpback cradling a seal while rolling out of the water. The whale had protected the seal from a group of killer whales. Pitman, a marine biologist, has analyzed 115 interactions with humpback whales and concluded that they will travel long distances in order to prevent killer whales from attacking, regardless of what type of animal the killer whale is pursuing. Whether this behavior is out of instinct, accident, or altruism, they have saved the lives of many aquatic animals and people. They are the heroes of the sea! THE HEROES OF THE SEA Humpback Whale Saves Scientist

In the movie “Castaway,” we see a whale notifying Chuck Noland of a nearby ship. The whale continuously sprays him with water to get his attention. Although this is a fictional story, what happened in “Castaway” isn’t just movie magic. There are real-life stories about whales helping people in need. In 2018, a marine biologist, Nan Hauser, was swimming in the waters off the Cook Islands when she noticed a 50,000-pound humpback whale near her. For 10 minutes, Hauser swam around the whale while it nudged her with its head, bumped her with its belly, and swiped at her with its fins. At first, Hauser thought the whale was trying to attack her. But actually, it protected her from a 15-foot-long tiger shark on the other side of the whale.

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