Di Bartolomeo Law Offices - February 2021

Di Bartolomeo Law Offices - February 2021

Makin’ It Better NEWSLETTER

February 2021

Oregon Workers’ Compensation | Personal Injury | Social Security Disability

1139 Exchange St., Astoria, OR 97103 • 503-325-8600 • JoeDiBartolomeo.com

Our Hobbies Make Us Happy

Now Is a Great Time to Discover Yours

Having a hobby you enjoy has numerous benefits, including lower stress levels and a sense of purpose. As we age, it becomes increasingly important to find a meaningful hobby. If you’ve recently retired or emptied your nest, or social distancing is still important to your health and safety, you probably need something engaging to fill your time. Many people assume that starting new hobbies when you’re older is too difficult, but I’m here to tell you that’s not the case at all! We have many ways to discover our next great hobby adventure. USE WHAT YOU KNOW. If your concern is finding something you consider to be hobby-worthy, chances are you enjoy something that can be transformed into a full-fledged hobby. Start by asking yourself what you like to do for fun. If you enjoy eating, start a cooking hobby. If you enjoy watching sports, consider joining a recreational team. If you love spending time with your dog or cat, try volunteering with a rescue organization. You’re likely already doing something you love, so why not find a way to adapt it into something you can do even more? REDISCOVER YOUR CHILDHOOD. Think back to before your adult life got in the way of all the activities you loved as a child. Before you had to work, raise kids, and maintain a home, what did you enjoy

doing? Was it finger-painting masterpieces for the fridge? Was it going to summer camp? Maybe you even loved digging in the dirt looking for rocks. You can use what you used to know to create a hobby, too! The above examples could lead to hobbies related to art, hiking, camping, or rock collecting. Find a childhood joy you once had and morph it to fit your life now. SEE WHAT STICKS. If you just can’t decide what your interests or likes are, then it’s time to try throwing a few things at the wall to see what sticks. Think of anything you find remotely interesting — it could be reading, watching movies, or even drinking wine. Then get out there and start trying activities associated with those interests. You could join a book club, start a movie review blog, or subscribe to a monthly wine tasting delivery. Try all three, and one might really capture you. Be willing to think outside the box, but also be willing to accept that not everything you try will be a slam dunk. Just don’t give up — put yourself out there, make connections, and find a perfect fit. TAKE AN ASSESSMENT. People tend to enjoy hobbies that appeal to their own unique personalities and interests. That’s why some hobbies appeal to some people and hold no interest for others. That’s also why researchers have

created personality assessments specifically catered to figuring out which hobbies are suited to different personality types. Tests like the Strong Interest Inventory will help you identify your key interests, and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator can give you deeper insight into your personality, which can better align you with hobbies you’ll enjoy. Don’t be afraid to seek outside guidance on which hobbies would appeal to you most. Our hobbies can be just as important for living a happy and fulfilling life as the work we do or the family we raise. They connect us with others, challenge us, keep us entertained, and bring meaning to our days. There’s never a right or wrong time to discover a new hobby, so dive in and get started.

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

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Love Boosts Your Immune System and Lifespan HIGH QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

It doesn't take a scientist to tell us that a healthy, loving relationship can decrease our stress — but did you know it also boosts our immune system's response and could help us live longer? Multiple studies have shown that couples in happy, loving marriages tend to have lower blood pressure. Marriage itself isn’t the key to a healthier life — the love is, researchers find. How do researchers define a loving relationship? To put it simply, it depends on the couples’ own opinion. Married couples with a high quality (aka loving) relationship showed significantly lower ambulatory systolic blood pressure than singles. However, happily married couples and singles had lower blood pressure than people in low quality marriages. Which means, at least in terms of your health, it’s much better to be single than unhappily married. How does it help your blood pressure exactly? Well, when positive events occur, the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin interact with your dopamine reward system. Vasopressin in particular helps control blood pressure.

Of course, getting into a new relationship can be a little stressful! Cortisol, the stress hormone, initially rises when you fall in love. However, it quickly drops in a long-term, stable relationship. Those low cortisol levels sustained for a long period of time contribute to many health benefits. But how does it improve your immune system? That’s a bit of a mystery to researchers. So far, women in love have shown changes in their gene regulation of immune cells compared to women not in love. Some theorize that this is in order to prepare for pregnancy. Unfortunately, we still don’t have conclusive research on whether men in love better fight flu and other viruses, too. High blood pressure is known as the “silent killer” since it has no symptoms, but it will steadily degrade your health over time, significantly increasing your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease. And while love is certainly not the only way to lower blood pressure, it’s comforting to know our loved ones can boost our health for a longer, happier life. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sharing Social Security Disability Insurance Can Your Family Benefit, Too?

EX-SPOUSE An ex-spouse can also receive your SSDI benefits, even if you remarry. The biggest qualifying factor in this case is that you and your ex-spouse’s marriage must have lasted at least 10 years in order for them to qualify for your benefits. Your ex-spouse must also: • Be unmarried • Be at least 62 years old • Not be eligible for an equal or higher benefit based on their own Social Security record. For more information regarding SSDI benefits and to find the correct forms, visit the Social Security Association at SSA.org.

Married couples share nearly everything, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. As their family grows, those benefits can also be extended to their children. However, certain qualifications must

case, your spouse can collect benefits, regardless of their age.

If your spouse does qualify, they can receive as high as half of the amount they are entitled to receive at their full- retirement age. CHILDREN A child who receives benefits from your SSDI can be your biological child, stepchild, adopted child, or dependent grandchild. To qualify for benefits, they must be unmarried and under the age of 18. Children who are older than 18 and have a disability that started before the age of 22 also qualify, as do children who are between the ages of 18 and19 who are full-time high school students.

be met before SSDI benefits are distributed to family members.

SPOUSE For your spouse to be eligible for SSDI benefits, they following three factors are considered: • Your spouse is 62 or older. • They are not collecting other Social Security benefits that are higher than yours. • Your spouse is caring for your child, and your child is under the age of 16 or is disabled. In this

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

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Can you go into detail about how the accident occurred? Once they’ve finished giving you a broad overview of what happened, start asking detailed questions, if they haven’t already addressed them. A few questions to consider are:

When you’re involved in an accident, talking to eyewitnesses can be vital if you have to file a lawsuit against the other driver. Eyewitnesses can provide details to back up your claims of what happened and how the accident occurred. However, right after an accident, it can be difficult to think straight and come up with the right questions to ask. To help, here are some good questions to get you started. What was your first indication that an accident was about to occur? Knowing what caught the eyewitness’s attention in the first place is an important detail. If they only caught the aftermath of the accident, such as hearing the impact and then turning to see the accident, they can’t give a reliable narrative of what happened. When an eyewitness saw what happened leading up to the accident, the accident itself, and the aftermath, they are in a much better position to back up your claims. From your perspective, how did the accident happen? This question is vital. It sets up the eyewitness to give you as much information about the accident as possible. Typically, this is a good question to ask before you start asking about the details of the accident. They may tell you details you may not have thought to ask about, and you can think of follow-up questions to enhance their narrative.

• How quickly did the accident happen? • What lane was each vehicle in? • Can you describe the stretch of the road? • Did either vehicle try to swerve or brake? • How fast were the vehicles moving? • Did you see any debris or damage either vehicle suffered?

What is your contact information? It is essential to get contact information from the eyewitness so you can contact them again if you need to pursue a lawsuit. Make sure to get their full name, phone number, email address, or any other contact information they are willing to provide.

PUZZLE

Butter and Herb Baked Oysters Inspired by TheSpruceEats.com

Ingredients

• Rock salt or uncooked rice (to coat your baking sheet) • 1 dozen fresh oysters, scrubbed and shucked • 1 stick butter, softened and divided into 8 tbsp

• 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs • 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped • 1 tbsp lemon juice • 1 tsp lemon zest • Lemon wedges and chopped parsley for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. On a rimmed baking sheet, spread out a layer of rock salt or uncooked rice. 3. Arrange oysters on the baking sheet, meat side up. 4. In a skillet over medium heat, melt half of the butter. Add breadcrumbs and sauté until brown. 5. In a small bowl, combine remaining butter, chives, lemon juice, and zest. 6. Top each oyster with a teaspoon of chive mixture and a sprinkle of sautéed breadcrumbs. 7. Bake for 8–10 minutes and serve garnished with lemon wedges and chopped parsley.

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

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503-325-8600 JoeDiBartolomeo.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

1139 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103

What’s Inside

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It’s Never Too Late to Discover a New Hobby

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High Quality Relationships Lower Blood Pressure SSDI: Can Your Family Benefit, Too?

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Eyewitnesses: What Do I Need to Ask? Butter and Herb Baked Oysters

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Are Smartwatches Really Worth the Hype?

Are Smartwatches Really Worth the Hype?

SOME BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS

First, there was the iPod. Then, there was the smartphone. And now, we have the latest phase in consumer technology that seeks to consolidate countless functions into a small package: the smartwatch. Smartwatches have many features that already exist on your smartphone but they are more easily accessible. But just how much easier or better is a smartwatch? Well, that depends. STYLISH OPTIONS Smartwatch manufacturers have worked hard to create something sleek and functional — a wrist accessory that looks like it belongs on a camping trip as much as it does at a black-tie gala. You can even change the wallpaper of some models to a digital clock, an elegant watch face, or anything in between. However, that versatile style comes at a pretty steep price — usually somewhere between $200 and $400. So, while looks aren’t the only thing smartwatches have to offer, you have to decide if their utility justifies the cost. CONNECTIVITY ON THE GO When you’re out mountain biking, running in the hills, or maybe going for a dip in the pool, having a smartphone with you can be more of a burden than a blessing. Smartwatches, on the other hand, are designed to go wherever you go. Some are even waterproof!

That means wherever you are, if you get lost or hurt, you can use your watch to call for help. However, that connectivity comes at the price of foregoing a welcome reprieve from all the notifications you escape when leaving your phone behind. FITNESS TRACKING The fitness tracking capabilities of the smartwatch are comparable to those of a simple wrist fitness tracker. While the smartwatch is not entirely accurate in its measurements of things like heart rate and calories burned, it’s accurate enough for the average person who’s just trying to get an idea of how to improve their fitness. Plus, measuring fitness is a great motivator for continuing to exercise.

Smartwatches aren’t nearly as ubiquitous as smartphones, and it doesn’t seem like they will be anytime soon. However, for the right person with the right

lifestyle, a smartwatch might just be the next must-have tech.

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

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