Florida Women's Law Group - April 2019

Florida Women's Law Group - April 2019

the

WOMEN’S

Advocate

April 2019

CLEANING HOUSE

I confess I’m one of those people who actually looks forward to spring-cleaning. There are few things I love more than organizing and getting rid of the clutter. For many people, deciding which things to keep and which to get rid of is the hardest part of the job. I am not one of those people. Things that take up too much space or don’t serve a purpose anymore are donated to Goodwill, with one exception. There is one item I’ve never been able to part with: my childhood dollhouse. By every metric, it should have been tossed out years ago. It’s large, it doesn’t get used, and it’s not decorative. Despite every rationalization, I just can’t bring myself to throw it out. I still remember the day my dad gave it to me. It was my 10th birthday party, and he’d asked me to go put something away in another room. Opening the door, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Sitting there was a beautiful, hand-carved dollhouse that was three stories tall with seven rooms, a patio, a white-shingled roof, and trim. It was everything I could have dreamed of. My dad certainly believed in wowing his kids. Working in the construction industry, he’d commissioned one of his woodworking friends to build this beautiful toy at home from scratch, which is probably why it’s larger than any dollhouse I’ve ever seen. And the joy didn’t stop with the construction itself. I got to furnish the home. At the time, there was this fancy little shop in D.C. that specialized in doll furniture. It was a magical place filled with handcrafted miniature tables, chairs, and dining sets. Picking out these items and organizing them in my little home brought me so much joy. The hours I spent decorating my dollhouse are probably what made me the avid spring-cleaner I am today. The size of the dollhouse always made keeping it a challenge. My grandma was nice enough to hold on to it for me when I went off to college, but

eventually, she had to call and ask me to take it back or throw it out. It was just taking up too much space. Thankfully, at that point, I had a home with an attic large enough to keep it in, and I’m so glad I did. One of my daughters became very interested in the dollhouse. So naturally, when she turned 10, I helped her do a full remodel, cleaning all the old furniture and even redoing the carpets and wallpaper. Reliving my childhood alongside my daughter and seeing how much happiness the house brought her was a moment I wouldn’t trade for anything. Some things really are worth the clutter. What started as a childhood toy has now become a family heirloom. While my daughters are too old to play with it, they may want to pass it on to their children in the future. Of course, I wouldn’t want my family to fight over it after I’m gone. In a way, my dollhouse needs a doll estate plan. I’m sure your family has its own version of this dollhouse — something you want to keep in the family regardless of how hard it is to find room for it. This item may not be worth a lot of money, but the memories and history surrounding it make it priceless. You probably don’t think of these heirlooms every day; they’re in storage in an attic, basement, or closet. While drafting an estate plan, they may even slip your mind. But when spring-cleaning comes around, and you stumble upon such an irreplaceable treasure, all those happy memories come rushing back. I know that certainly happened to me. If you have such an heirloom, consider including it in your will. Our estate planning attorneys would be happy to help.

2018 Jacksonville Business Journal Fast 50 2018 Florida Super Lawyers list

FloridaWomensLawGroup.com

904-241-0012

4312 Pablo Professional Ct. Jacksonville, FL 32224

Here’s to life’s treasures,

-Heather Qu ick

1

FloridaWomensLawGroup.com

now have ammonia-free hair dyes, and some even offer organic, plant-based formulations that work just as well as their nonorganic counterparts.

Have You ‘Haired’ These Common Hair Myths?

2. TRIMMING YOUR HAIR EVERY SIX WEEKS MAKES IT GROW FASTER.

You’ve probably heard this age-old adage from various women throughout your life, but the truth is your hair grows at a constant rate even if you cut it often. Many people still believe this myth because regularly trimming your hair leads to less breakage and flyaways, which creates the effect of healthier, thicker hair.

3. RINSING YOUR HAIR WITH COLD WATER MAKES IT SHINIER.

This myth is a little newer, and it likely came about because of another common skin care myth: Cold water “closes” your pores. Hair shafts don’t have any live cells, so they are not affected by cold or warm water. Cold water can technically cause the hair strands to lie flat, but anything you do to your hair afterward — blow-drying, towel-drying, or brushing — will negate this effect. Warm water is superior in terms of preserving hair health, as it removes built-up residue and restores your hair’s natural luster.

Long, beautiful hair has been a status symbol in many cultures for the past few millennia, so it’s no surprise that hair care tips have circled the globe over the years. Among these tips are a fair number of myths. Many of them have been debunked, but several are still widely believed today.

1. YOU SHOULDN’T DYE YOUR HAIR WHILE PREGNANT.

This myth has been circulating since modern hair dye became popular, but many researchers agree that the amount of chemicals your scalp absorbs when you dye your hair poses little risk to a developing baby. What’s more, many companies

REFRESHING YOUR ESTATE

As You Clean Your House, Think About Your Legacy

As Heather discussed on this month’s cover, spring is a great time to get your house in order. As you’re dusting, sorting, and donating, it’s also a good idea to spend some time refreshing your estate plan. Just as clutter can build up in our homes, it can also build up in wills and trusts. Here are a few ways you can refresh your estate plans while spring-cleaning. DUST OFF THOSE DOCUMENTS Much like old boxes in the attic, if you haven’t looked at your will in some time, the contents may surprise you. Laws, families, and goals change, and you may find that your last wishes a decade ago don’t match your life today. For example, maybe your children have become adults and you’d like to name one of them as your executor. TAKE STOCK OF YOUR HEIRLOOMS Estate planning is about far more than passing on wealth. It’s about preserving the things that matter most to your family, regardless of monetary value. Chances are, as you’re cleaning, you’ll come across items you and your loved ones cherish: an old rocking horse, an album of photographs from your childhood, or a beloved doll house. These are the kinds of items you may not initially think about naming in an estate plan, but they can mean the world to your beneficiaries. Taking the time to make sure these priceless pieces of your family history are accounted for in your plan can save your loved ones from disagreements and heartache down the road.

CONSIDER DONATIONS Just as donating old clothes to charitable organizations does a lot of good, dedicating parts of your estate to people in need can make a huge difference in the world. If you’ve grown close to a particular cause or simply want to ensure your assets make a difference, consider building charitable giving into your estate plan. There are many ways to incorporate donating to charity into your estate plan, including gift annuities, family foundations, and gifting assets. Talk to our team at Florida Women’s Law Group, and we’ll help you find the path that’s right for you.

2 Florida Women’s Law Group | 904-241-0012

Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.thenewsletterpro.com

Women Speaking Wisely “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse.” –Florence Nightingale

APRIL SHOWERS

The Complex Emotions of New Beginnings The phrase “April showers bring May flowers” may not be that applicable here in the sunshine state, especially when compared to our wet Jacksonville summers. Still, the sentiment behind these words holds a lot of truth. In life, as in nature, we need those dreary, rainy days in order to grow; this is often the case when relationships come to a close. But in the midst of the divorce process, those flowers can be hard to see. DIVORCE AND DEPRESSION It’s normal to develop some degree of situational depression after a major life change, especially a divorce. You may notice that activities you normally enjoy feel hollow, your appetite has disappeared, or you’re neglecting basic elements of self-care. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms or other feelings of helplessness, know that feeling this way is a natural response to grief, and it will pass. But sometimes we need a helping hand to make that happen. PARTING THE CLOUDS Sometimes depression can linger, wearing you down emotionally and taking a toll on your health. If you believe situational depression is getting in the way of your responsibilities or if you are experiencing thoughts of harming yourself, please see a doctor. Therapy and medication can help you bridge the darkest patches in your depression and set you on the path toward healing.

Here are some other ways you can make positive strides toward a brighter tomorrow.

• • • •

Attending support groups

Talking about your feelings with trusted friends

Exercising

Making more time for relaxation

A BRIGHT, SUNNY TOMORROW It’s normal to mourn the end of a relationship, even a bad one. Adjusting to your new life and all the beautiful opportunities it holds takes time, and that’s okay. Having helped so many women through this process over the years, we can say with confidence that these storm clouds do pass, allowing your future to blossom.

3

FloridaWomensLawGroup.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

4312 Pablo Professional Ct. Jacksonville, FL 32224

Inside

Cleaning House Don’t Believe These Common Hair Myths Spring-Cleaning Your Estate Plan April Showers: Divorce and Depression Use Cues to Create a Running Habit

RUNNING: A LOVE STORY Use Cues to Create a Running Habit

Since the ‘70s, devotees have referred to the elusive rush of euphoria they feel during and right after a run as a “runner’s high.” Your friend who claims to “love” running despite how exhausted she looks at the finish line of her 10K might be experiencing the effects of this phenomenon. This post-workout boost has long been linked to a rush of endorphins entering the brain, but a recent study from researchers in Germany suggests that a more likely cause is an increased production of serotonin and other feel-good neurotransmitters. Because of these physiological effects, running may help to improve your body’s ability to stand up to stress while also making you feel good. For seasoned runners, that sweet call of serotonin might be enough to lace up their sneakers week after week, but the rest of us might need a little more convincing. Research into the psychology of habit formation, which

has allowed companies like Procter & Gamble to make millions, has found that habits are often linked to a specific cue. Calling on the insight of psychologists, marketing campaigns have used this tactic to sell products like Febreze, and you can use some of the same techniques to adopt a running habit. Most cues fall into one of four categories: temporal (linked to a specific location or time of day), action-based (one of a series of actions), emotional (linked to a mood or emotion), or social (linked to a particular group of people). So if you want to create a running habit, develop prompts that will cue you to engage in it.

For example, you can use temporal cues to make a habit of running every day after work, or you can make it a necessary step in your routine: Wake up, brush teeth, coffee, run, shower. Documenting how you feel after a run will help your mind link the good feelings it gives you to the action, which will then cue the habit. Next time your drinking buddies suggest happy hour, suggest a run instead. Maybe they’ll even pick up the habit.

Go on now. Let running sweep you off your feet!

4 Florida Women’s Law Group | 904-241-0012

Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.thenewsletterpro.com