Bruce Law Firm - October 2017

Bruce Law Firm - October 2017

October 2017

Celebrating an Adventurous Marriage

NAVIGATING THE RIVER

October with two little ones means taking part in the festivities of Halloween. My wife, Ashley, and I get to take them trick-or-treating and take advantage of still getting to choose their costumes … so they’ll probably go dressed as lawyers (only kidding). We’ll also do our best to stay on top of football and catch the Dolphins while it’s early enough in the season that we still have some optimism for the team. Sundays are often spent with the family watching games.

a new business, and while it was obviously challenging, having a partner there in those times made it possible to thrive through them. I’m so grateful that I get to call Ashley my partner for life. In talking about how we wanted to celebrate this anniversary, Ashley and I decided that we wanted to make it really special and do something out of the ordinary, something as unique and adventurous as we are. So this October, we are going on a rafting trip to West Virginia and taking on class- five rapids. Yes, you read that right. We are heading to Gauley River for an overnight rafting trip. During the day, we’ll be on the river, and by night, we’ll stop over at a cabin. An appropriate term I’ve heard to describe it is “glamping.” It’s going to be a nice break from our day-to-day lives; it’s a chance to get outdoors and reflect on our bond and the family we have built from it. A guide will be there to take us through the rapids, because while I may know a lot about law, I’m no river expert. We’re leaving this one to nature and the outdoor professionals, and we are pretty excited about it. Reflecting on this milestone in our marriage is an important reminder about the necessity of taking time to celebrate your relationship. Anniversaries are reminders to take a moment and reflect on where you’ve been and where you are going. These are important milestones in your marriage, and it’s valuable for both partners to take time for them. Show each other you care and are committed to your relationship. Remember why you fell in love in the first place, consider your strong bond, and acknowledge the future you are building together. That’s why I think it’s important to celebrate anniversaries. Much like a river, sometimes you need a guide in your relationship through turbulent waters. If you are at a point in your marriage where you have forgotten some of the good times, try your best to make things better. Don’t neglect your relationship. For some inspiration, check out the articles and podcasts at www.StayMarriedFlorida.com, which I have put together over the years with the help of some really great South Florida therapists.

Ashley and I rafting the Arkansas River in Colorado in 2013.

What I am actually looking most forward to this month, though, is celebrating my fifth wedding anniversary with Ashley. Seeing that written, it’s amazing to think how quickly five years has flown by. In this time, we have had so many wonderful moments and new beginnings together. My wife gave birth to our first baby, and not long after that, she supported me in my decision to start my own law firm. We had a 1-year-old, an infant, and

– Chris Bruce

(561) 810-0170 • 1

DO KIDS’ MENUS DO MORE THAN GOOD? HARM

The Importance of Before Divorce Getting Organized If you’ve reached a stage in your marriage where you are thinking about divorce, one of the biggest favors you can do yourself is to get organized. Before you can go anywhere with your divorce, it’s important to organize your resources and information. It may not be the right time to tell your spouse you want a divorce, so gathering information and evaluating the situation first can put you at an advantage when it is the right time to tell them. In divorce cases, there is such a thing as “first mover advantage.” If divorce is something you are considering, you can claim this advantage by approaching your spouse after you’ve gotten organized. This includes collecting financial information like tax returns, account statements, and any business records you have. At this stage, ensuring your privacy is very important. You want to keep your options open, because you may ultimately decide you don’t want a divorce, and there are some basic steps you can take to protect your information. Establishing a secure email address, changing all of your account passwords, and securing your devices are all ways to ensure the information you gather is private until it’s time to bring it forward. I have more tips for getting organized in my free book, “The Best Divorce,” available at brucepa.com/best-divorce-book . You can also reach out to me at Bruce Law Firm if you’ve decided divorce is the path you need to take to a better life. Does a friend or client have divorce questions? our divorce strategy book can help! Advantage: You

Kids can be picky eaters. This is a fact recognized by parents and restaurants alike — hence the classic children’s menu featured at many restaurants around the country. These menus are virtually identical: chicken tenders, mac and cheese, grilled cheese, french fries, and so on. Kids’ menus are loaded with fried foods and cheap carbs. Some parents love the kids’ menu. It makes deciding on food easier. Or, at least, that’s what we tell ourselves. Kids’ menus are populated with foods practically every kid loves. But they have a dark side. Aside from poor nutrition, the kids’ menu changes the family dynamic. In an interview with Eater.com, television chef and host Alton Brown (who you may know from “Good Eats,” “Iron Chef America,” and “Cutthroat Kitchen”) said, “Never, ever, ever, ever, ever let your kid eat from the children’s menu at restaurants and never, ever, ever make your kid special food to allow them to avoid whatever the family is eating.” Why? During his “Alton Brown Live!” tour, he explained that it comes down to control. By giving kids the option of the children’s menu, you relinquish culinary control to your kids. The next time you go out as a family or you make a delicious meal at home, they are more likely to demand “their” food. This is a habit a child can quickly adopt — and a habit that’s tough to break. Kids are picky eaters because, as parents and adults, we let them be picky eaters. We perpetuate bad habits. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In a Mom. me article, Dr. Cara Natterson suggests kids eat what the rest of the family eats. For instance, let them indulge in the appetizer menu, then build up to the entrée menu and let them share and sample your food. Encourage culinary exploration. When you encourage your kids to avoid the children’s menu, you give them an opportunity to expand their flavor horizons. More importantly, it helps them make healthier choices that aren’t loaded with fat and empty carbs. Make going out to dinner a learning experience, and before you know it, the phrase “kids’ menu” will have disappeared from your family’s vocabulary.

The book can be downloaded for FREE at BrucePA.com/free- divorce-book . If your friend or client lives in the South Florida area we will mail them a hard copy of the book upon request.

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Put On an Event to Bring in New Leads

Promoting your event is vital. You’ll want to invite your existing customers, and keep up a strong social media presence before, during, and after the event. One great way to advertise events is with a print newsletter, especially if you include a freestanding flyer for the event inside the newsletter. For more ideas on event promotion — as well as a great primer on event planning in general — check out Judy Allen’s book “Event Planning: The Ultimate Guide.” It goes into all the factors of event planning in way more detail than we can here! A free event is well worth the effort. Nothing builds the same goodwill in the community, generates leads from the public, and puts a great face on your business like a free lunch or workshop. And for some business owners, such as attorneys, hosting a free event might be one of the few ways to promote your company without running afoul of marketing rules that apply to your specific profession. Are you ready to host your own free event yet? Plan, promote, and don’t forget to follow up. Strike when the iron is hottest, during and immediately after the event, for great leads and customer retention rates. Be sure to ask people where they heard of your business as well — something you should already be doing. That way you’ll know how successful your event was at attracting new leads!

People are social animals. We like to gather together; it’s one of our most basic instincts. Want to play on that instinct to boost your business and attract new leads? Plan and throw a free event! Free events are “a great way to help attract new customers, cement relationships with existing customers, and build buzz about your business,” says small-business expert Rieva Lesonsky. A public gathering is a good way to get your foot in the door and generate some leads from the general public. It could be a free workshop or seminar, a meet-and-greet luncheon for local small-business owners, or even a birthday party for your company.

Refried Bean

have a LAUGH

Poblanos

with cheese

This vegetarian meal comes together in less than 15 minutes. It’s the perfect way to avoid take-out on a busy weeknight.

ingredients

•

½ cup picante sauce

•

4 medium poblano chilies, halved and seeded

•

1 cup (4 ounces) pre-shredded reduced-fat 4-cheese Mexican blend

•

1 (16-ounce) can fat-free refried beans

•

Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

•

1 (8.8-ounce) pouch microwaveable cooked long-grain rice

Directions

chili halves. Cover with wax paper; microwave on high 2 minutes. Uncover chilies, sprinkle each half with 2 tablespoons cheese, and microwave on high 1–2 minutes or until cheese melts. Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.

1.

Place chili halves, cut sides up, on a round microwave-safe plate. Cover with wax paper; microwave on high 3 minutes. While chilies cook, combine beans, rice, and picante sauce in a medium bowl, stirring well. Spoon bean mixture into

3.

2.

Recipe courtesy of CookingLight.com. (561) 810-0170 • 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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Celebrating an Adventurous Marriage page 1 Do Kids’ Menus Do More Harm Than Good? The Importance of Getting Organized Before Divorce page 2

Use Events to Nab New Leads Refried Bean Poblanos With Cheese page 3

The Origins of Fear page 4

Which Fears Are Instinctual, and Which Are Learned?

Wheredoesfearcomefrom? As the jack-o’-lanterns show their grinning, glowing faces and skeletons, cobwebs, and gravestones adorn yards around the neighborhood, it’s a question hanging in many of our minds. When you recoil from the giant mechanical spider suspended above your neighbor’s garage, is that fear instinctual, or is it learned?

were then encouraged by their caregivers, usually their mothers, to crawl off the “cliff” onto the clear half of the platform. Both avoided stepping over what they perceived as a sharp drop, and pre-crawling-age infants showed heightened cardiac distress on the “suspended” side. Coupled with this innate fear of plummeting to the ground is something called the Moro reflex, one of several involuntary reflexes healthy newborn infants have at birth. Often called the “startle reflex,” it occurs when a baby is startled by a loud sound or movement, especially a falling motion. The reflex usually triggers the newborn to lift and spread their arms as if grasping for support, followed by crying. Though the Moro reflex usually disappears at around 5 to 6 months of age, our instinctive aversion to sudden loud noises stays with us throughout our lives.

According to the Association for Psychological Science, there are only two fears we inherit at birth: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds.

A 1960 study, conducted by psychologists Gibson and Walk for Cornell University, sought to investigate depth perception in human and animal species. They suspended a sheet of transparent plexiglass about 4 feet off the ground and covered one half of it with a checkerboard-pattern cloth, creating a simulated cliff. Infants, both human and animal,

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