Field Law Firm - July 2022

Field Law Firm - July 2022

Notes From The Field

July 2022

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Living a Life of Freedom: You Are Your Word

“Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.” – Herbert Hoover One of the many joys in my work is having meaningful conversations with people from all stages and walks of life about what matters most. In these interactions, I am constantly struck by the passion people possess when sharing with me and how often these same values and desires get buried beneath obligations and fears. Truthfully, each of us desires to live in freedom and wholehearted love, yet so much of our daily life gets in the way of being fulfilled and living in our purpose. The good news is this: You are not alone in your struggle for freedom. On a certain level, you and I have already been given freedoms and rights not guaranteed to every human on this planet. For that, we can and should be immensely grateful. It is also true that despite the freedoms afforded to us as citizens of this country,

we wrestle with living truly free in our lives as biases and social expectations place certain constraints upon us.

I have been privileged to learn what matters most to many individuals, and I often see similarities in their values: quality time with family, helping those in need, pursuing activities that bring joy, taking comfort in the simplicity of life. All this begs the complicated question, “If these are what we value and care most about, why does life seem dominated by anger, frustration, and apathy?” I would contend that this discrepancy occurs because we do not live true to our word and are content with ignoring the ways our values are in direct contradiction to our actions and biased beliefs about the world. This dichotomous way of living keeps us yearning for fulfillment, looking around us for more while we remain trapped in the same patterns, much like Bill Murray’s movie “Groundhog Day.” If this is the problem we face, how then should we deal with it? We must do the work of integrity, striving to align our actions with our words and taking accountability when we miss the mark. With patience and fortitude, we may yet find freedom in being precisely who we say we are going to be. A daunting task lies before us, yet we are not without resources to accomplish it. I am proud to share that my team and I, in partnership with Matson Money, get to host two-day workshops called the American Dream Experience. Throughout the course, participants are encouraged and empowered to evaluate their relationship to money and the world at large in the space of becoming aware of their own biases and inconsistencies. I have witnessed many families transformed because of the powerful conversations that take place. This is just one reason I love the work I get to do. Every day, we get to live into our purpose, which is empowering families to live lives of freedom. We get to participate in the work of helping you and your family find and live in true freedom. It brings to mind the words of Nelson Mandela: “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedoms of others.”

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BRAIN GAMES

As we celebrate the Fourth of July, Caleb wanted me to share with you a few of his favorite jokes about Independence Day and U.S. history.

How come there aren’t any knock-knock jokes about America? Because freedom rings.

What did the colonists wear to the Boston Tea Party? Tea-shirts.

SOLUTION

What do you call an American revolutionary who draws cartoons? A Yankee doodler!

What did one flag say to the other flag? Nothing. It just waved.

Thurgood Marshall: An American Legacy

As U.S. citizens, July is a very special month as we celebrate and remember our history and birth as a nation. Instead of regaling you with all the stories you know and love about our founding, I want to take a moment to tell you about a great American who was born on July 2, 1908. His name was Thurgood Marshall, and in 1967, he was appointed as the first Black Supreme Court justice.

his time as a lawyer, he argued 32 cases before the Supreme Court, winning a total of 29 cases. It was his case, Brown v. Board of Education , that served as a landmark in our history and a cornerstone for the civil rights movement as it declared racial segregation in schools unconstitutional. He remains one of the most successful and renowned

attorneys in U.S. history. His career progressed and he was eventually nominated and confirmed to the Supreme Court on Aug. 30, 1967. He served in this position for 24 years. If you are interested in learning more about Thurgood Marshall and his legacy, I recommend visiting the NAACP’s website. Additionally, a 2017 movie titled “Marshall” starring Chadwick Boseman focuses on his early years as a lawyer and brings to light much of his character and passion. I want to leave you with one of his most famous quotes: “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”

Born in Baltimore to William and Norma, a railroad porter and a teacher, respectively, Thurgood was raised with a deep appreciation for the U.S. Constitution. At a young age, his father would take him and his brother to watch court cases to learn how to debate and think critically. They would then practice these skills around the dinner table when discussing current events. He attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and quickly became a star on his debate team. He later went on to be the chief counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. In

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TAKE A BREAK

Strategies to Fight Distraction OVERCOMING INATTENTION With our phones always on standby, we’re more easily distracted than ever. Then there are also interruptions by coworkers or family members, emails or instant messages that divert our attention, household chores that will “only take a minute,” coffee breaks, and daydreams. Constant distraction hurts us more than we realize, creating a feedback loop of inattention. It’s time we understand what all this multitasking is doing to our minds and figure out how to break the cycle. No matter how good you think you are at it, multitasking doesn’t exist. What we’re really doing is called task-switching. Our brains can concentrate on only one thing at a time, and the quicker we go back and forth between tasks, the less we pay attention, and the more likely we are to make mistakes. Even worse, research says it takes us a whopping 23 minutes to regain our concentration after being interrupted. But what can you do? If you’ve ever been on a diet, you know that willpower has its limits. Simply promising you won’t check your email or phone rarely results in long-term success. But if technology is a big part of the problem, it can also be part of the solution. Try putting your email or phone notifications on silent. Or, consider a website blocker to keep you off distracting websites and an app that will lock distracting features on your phone. Low-tech solutions like a “do not disturb” sign and putting your phone in another room can also help. And mental tricks can still have their place. You probably tend to become productive when you’ve got a deadline crunch, and there’s a reason for that. Tasks have a way of stretching out unnecessarily when we don’t have to follow any restrictions. So, make some! Determine how much time you need to complete a task, and then don’t allow yourself anymore. Ask a colleague for help staying accountable. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done.

SUMMER CRAB AND LEMON CARBONARA

Fresh crab and lemon make this crowd-pleasing pasta dish perfect for summer.

• 12 oz bucatini pasta • 1/2 cup olive oil Ingredients

• 3 oz Pecorino Romano cheese, grated • 1/2 cup fresh chives, thinly sliced • 8 oz fresh crabmeat

• 2 tbsp garlic, finely chopped • 1/4 cup drained and rinsed capers, chopped • 1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper • 6 large egg yolks, beaten

• 1 tbsp grated lemon zest • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice • Sea salt or kosher salt, to taste

Though we each have to fight our own battles, this isn’t entirely our fault.

Directions

Popular apps make billions of dollars by sucking our attention away from everything

1. In a pot of boiling water, cook pasta until not yet al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup cooking liquid. 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook oil and garlic until lightly toasted. Add capers and black pepper, then stir for 2 minutes. 3. Add reserved cooking liquid to skillet and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir in pasta and cook until al dente. Remove from heat. 4. Stirring constantly, pour egg yolks quickly into the mixture. Add cheese and chives, stirring well until sauce is creamy. Add crab, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Toss together and season with salt.

else, so we’re automatically at a disadvantage. And there may be even more than meets the eye. If you have difficulty concentrating, stress could be the underlying culprit. Get that under control, and distractions might suddenly lose some of their allure.

Inspired by FoodAndWine.com

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

818-369-7900 FieldLawPC.com

P.O. Box 8306 La Crescenta, CA 91224 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Living a Life of Freedom

Caleb’s Corner Thurgood Marshall: An American Legacy Summer Crab and Lemon Carbonara How Distractions Are Hurting Us

‘The Repair Shop’: Relaxing and Heartwarming Television

Reality television can be a great way to turn off your mind, but most options are full of petty drama and sarcastic remarks. For some of us, it can get a little tiring. One show out of the U.K. is taking a refreshingly gentler approach. “The Repair Shop” follows passionate craftspeople as they fix antiques, and every object they work on has a story behind it. There are no high-stakes prizes or biting comments in “The Repair Shop.” Instead, viewers peek inside a warm and inviting workshop filled with collaboration and sentimental stories. In each episode, you watch the experts perform amazing transformations and hear heartwarming tales about the connections people build with family heirlooms. The main cast includes upholsterer Jay Blades, woodworker Will Kirk, clock repairer Steve Fletcher, leatherworker Suzie Fletcher, ceramicist Kirsten Ramsay, and metalworker Dom Chinea. They are joined by a painting restorationist, stuffed animal repairers, and experts in glass, jewelry, and musical instruments as needed. The eclectic mix means viewers are in for a new treat every episode. The cast may work on a grandfather clock and rocking horse in one episode, only to restore a beloved teddy bear and repair a pinball machine in another. A Slower, Kinder Type of TV Cozy Up With ‘The Repair Shop’

Some of the best moments happen when the craftspeople work together. When an old writing desk has a leather inlay or an antique clock needs a newly painted face, everyone in the shop is glad to pitch in and help restore any object. They do so with good humor, a collaborative spirit, and dedication to their craft. But the show’s real heroes are the guests who bring in their beloved keepsakes. From war mementos to antique furniture and favorite toys passed down from parents, each person who visits has a deep connection with the object that needs repairing. They tell their stories, and we see their emotional reactions to their items receiving new life. U.S. viewers can catch “The Repair Shop” on BBC One or stream it on Discovery+. Cozy up with a cup of tea — plus a box of tissues, if you’re the sentimental type — and prepare to be moved.

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