GA Injury Advocates - February 2020

GA Injury Advocates - February 2020

Auto Injury T R I B U N E

February 2020

Cleanse Toxic Relationship From Your Life A PINCH OF POISON

H ow much arsenic would you let someone put in your food? Here’s a better question: How much lead paint would you let be on the walls of your child’s bedroom? I would guess the answer to both of these questions is “None!” So, if we wouldn’t let anyone put poison in our food or in our paint, why do we often let other people bring poison into our lives? Over the years, I’ve had many people come to me for relationship advice. My wife and I have been married for 25 years, and if I’ve been able to keep someone as great as Karen around for so long, I must know something about having a strong relationship. That’s why I often get asked, “How do I know if I should stay in this relationship?” This question by itself is difficult to answer, but, usually, it’s followed by, “I know they’re not great, and they always bring me down, but I don’t know if we should break up!” When someone’s partner is bringing them down or making them feel bad about themselves, that’s what the books I’ve read call a “toxic relationship.” Toxic is a great word to use because these kinds of relationships are literally poison to our lives. In fact, they make our lives so much worse. Keep in mind that toxic relationships can be found in any relationship, not just romantic ones. We can have toxic friends and even toxic family members.

“It takes energy to remove toxic people from our lives, so it’s important to learn how to keep toxic relationships out of our lives in the first place.”

It takes energy to remove toxic people from our lives, so it’s important to learn how to keep toxic relationships out of our lives in the first place. Start by remembering that we attract to us who we are being. Confident people who love themselves tend to attract other confident, self-assured people. On the other hand, when someone has low self-esteem, they tend to attract people with low self-esteem— or worse, people who prey on those insecurities. This by no means implies that people who are in toxic relationships “deserve” it. I believe that when we find ourselves in an unhappy relationship, we can take advantage of that opportunity to look inward. What led you to this point? Many times, the things we don’t like in other people are reflections of things we don’t like about ourselves. When we see those reflections, we can improve them and become better people. be hard. If every day is hard and draining, and you don’t want to spend time with your significant other because they just complain all the time, ask yourself if you’re in a toxic relationship. If the answer is yes, ask if it’s time to call it quits. Making that choice is difficult, but trust me, it’s worth it when you finally find yourself in a healthy, happy relationship. While even great relationships can have their challenges, I don’t believe relationships should

If you find yourself in a toxic relationship, I say let them go! Otherwise, you’ll either spend all your energy trying to change that other person, or you’ll wither away under all that toxicity. The only way to feel better is to cut them loose. The trouble is that people are often hesitant to leave that relationship because they’re afraid they won’t find someone else. But that fear only leads people to stay in unhappy relationships. Is being alone really so much worse than being stuck with someone else’s poison?

–Ramiro Rodriguez, Jr. El Abogado Ramiro (El Abogado Amigo) y su equipo hablan español

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VALENTINE’S LESSONS

STICK A FORK IN IT HEALTHY EATING HABITS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

TALKING TO YOUR ADOLESCENT ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS

With Valentine’s Day approaching, stores are filled with chocolates, stuffed animals, and cards for significant others. Love is in the air! Even though you may not realize it, your kids may also be feeling the pressure. Crushes, dates, and broken hearts are part of their lives, too, but they may struggle to talk with you about it. Thankfully, developmental experts have weighed in on how to approach these important and delicate conversations. No Laughing Matter Judith Myers-Walls, professor emeritus of child development at Purdue, urges parents not to treat their kids’ crushes as silly. We may know these early expressions of love aren’t that serious in the long run, but to an adolescent, the emotions are very powerful. “They are very easily embarrassed about those feelings,” Myers-Walls observes, “so parents and other adults should be respectful and not tease about those issues.” Rather than make kids feel ashamed of these early romantic feelings, let them know you’re there to talk to them about it. Respecting Others Dr. David Anderson, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, believes it’s especially important to talk to adolescents about respecting boundaries. “One of the big lessons we want to be sending to kids at any age is that there are two people to consider,” he writes, explaining that adolescents tend to only focus on their own feelings and need to learn to consider how their crush may feel about them. This awareness might prevent them from overstepping someone else’s comfort zone. Respecting Themselves At the same time, kids and teens should know the importance of respecting their own feelings. Setting boundaries can be especially important when your child is confronted with an unwanted Valentine’s Day card or request for a date and feels pressured to reciprocate. “Boundary setting is imperative to learn during adolescence because it is a time of identity formation,” writes Dr. Marilyn Price-Mitchell in Psychology Today. “Healthy boundaries allow teens to feel respected, valued, and empowered to build

In the U.S., there’s nothing we love more than our large meat-and- potatoes dinners, but, according to nutritional experts, American-style meals are expanding our waistlines and leading to chronic medical conditions. Push back against these unhealthy habits by checking out these healthier food traditions from around the globe that your whole family will enjoy. Japan: The Appearance In Japanese culture, an emphasis is placed on the look and color of the meal instead of the portion size. Japanese chefs opt for smaller portions of colorful fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish to create gorgeous, nutrient- packed meals. The result is a dish that is as beautiful as it is nutritious. You Try It: Learn the art of making sushi and other Japanese meals with your family. See what creative combinations your family can create, and vote for the best one! As an added bonus, since portions are small, meals are easily transportable to school and work. India: The Spice Delicious spices comprise the bold flavors in traditional Indian dishes, and many even boast health benefits. Common ingredients like ginger and turmeric can decrease inflammation in the body while curry powder can aid in digestion and strengthen your bones and heart. You Try It: Using your own spices, have a spice-blending competition. Taste-test the creations and decide which recipes are good enough for a repeat and which ones will go down in family history as lofty experiments. Who knows? You may just discover your family’s next favorite meal. Mexico: The Lunch Diners in Mexico often step away from the hustle and bustle of their busy days to enjoy their largest meal of the day: lunch. Though it may surprise you, this cultural tradition has surprising health benefits. Nutritional experts point to making lunch the largest meal of the day as the healthiest dining option, especially to control weight. More calories at lunch keep hunger at bay, which means less afternoon snacking and fewer daily calories overall, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. You Try It: Short of packing bigger lunches for your kiddos, try out this style of eating during the weekends. Enjoy large, family-style midday meals and smaller dinners with your loved ones on Saturdays and Sundays to reap the nutritional benefits of a large lunch.

positive relationships in their lives.” It also helps them handle uncomfortable social situations with grace and maturity.

Crushes and first dates are a part of growing up, as is learning how to contribute to healthy relationships. Much like a first step or learning to drive, patient, loving parental support makes all the difference.

For more information and tips on how to transform your eating habits, visit DoSomething.org.

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The Rarity of a Leap Year Birthday and Its History

If you’re born on Feb. 29, like Ramiro’s good friend Debbie, that means you’re a leap year baby! Whether they celebrate their birthday on Feb. 28 or March 1 for the rest of the years, leap year babies should consider themselves part of something special. The mere chances of being a “leapling” are 1 in 1,461. It’s more likely a person will be born with 11 fingers and toes (1 in 500) than be born on leap day! So, where did the leap year come from anyway? Ever since ancient Egypt, we’ve known that our calendars don’t always line up properly with the duration of the Earth’s rotation around the Sun. In early calendars, the days in a year were somewhere around 354, causing the calendar and seasons to get out of sync from lagging 11 days behind. When Julius Caesar became emperor of Rome, the calendar was at least three months behind the actual seasons. To solve this issue, he installed a 445-day-long Year of Confusion (46 B.C.) to correct the errors in one swoop, then implemented 365.25-day years that added a leap day every fourth year. Too Many Spare Days

The solution wasn’t perfect; the new year was still 11 minutes shorter than the full rotation. Every 128 years, the calendar would be off by a full day. Pope Gregory XIII mandated a solution with the Gregorian calendar: leap years divisible by 100, like 1900, would be skipped unless also divisible by 400. While it still isn’t a perfect system, it’ll help our calendars stay in sync for the next 3,300 years. Even if the list is slimmer for Feb. 29 than other celebrity birthdays, there are several prominent celebrities that are also leaplings such as rapper Ja Rule, Antonio Sabàto Jr., “Law & Order” actor Peter Scanavino, “The Godfather” actor Alex Rocco, Foster the People musician Mark Foster, and — although not real — Superman! We hope you have a happy February with the leap year babies in your life. This year is one of the few everyone can celebrate their real, genuine birthday! Famous Leaplings

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEAPLINGS!

RECIPE:

APPLE CIDER CHICKEN AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS

SUDOKU

Directions:

Chicken dinners are a staple in every American home. This one combines your favorite poultry with a scrumptious apple cider sauce for a meal that’ll warm your stomach and your heart.

1. Heat oven to 450 F. 2. On a baking sheet, toss Brussels sprouts, apples, onion, and rosemary sprigs in olive oil, salt, and pepper. 3. Roast vegetable and fruit mixture until tender, about 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway. 4. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and chopped rosemary. 5. In an ovenproof skillet, heat 1 tbsp butter. Add chicken and cook 6 minutes on one side. Flip and cook 2 more minutes. 6. Pour cider onto chicken. Roast in the oven for 12 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and let it rest on cutting board. 7. Return skillet to stove on medium-high and simmer sauce until reduced by half. 8. Swirl remaining 1 tbsp of butter with vinegar, salt, and pepper. Slice chicken and divide among plates with roasted vegetables and serve.

Ingredients:

• • • • • • • • • • •

1 lb Brussels sprouts, halved 2 gala apples, cut into wedges 1 red onion, cut into wedges 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil Salt and pepper to taste 4 boneless chicken breasts 2 sprigs rosemary

1 tsp rosemary leaves, finely chopped

2 tbsp butter, divided 2/3 cup apple cider 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

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Stop Drinking Poison International Eating Habits Every Family Will Enjoy Crushes, Valentine’s, and Parenting The Rarity of a Leap Year Birthday and Its History Apple Cider Chicken and

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Brussels Sprouts Out and About in Marietta

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On Sept. 24, 1935, all of Marietta came out to the premiere of “Top Hat,” a film starring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. The town gathered at The Strand Theatre in Marietta Square, a brand-new art deco movie palace. With seating for 1,000 as well as heating and air conditioning, The Strand was the most modern theatre outside of Atlanta. Despite the initial excitement, less than two decades later, The Strand fell into disrepair. Fortunately, in 1953, a man named James Zimmerman stepped in as theatre manager. A born showman, Zimmerman returned The Strand to its former glory. With his unique marketing strategies — from serving punch from a bathtub to promoting movies with a live gorilla — he transformed The Strand into a place where the community made memories again. Zimmerman even turned The Strand into a destination for the stars, as Hollywood royals, including Alfred Hitchcock himself, came to walk The Strand’s red carpet. Zimmerman would eventually be promoted to oversee theaters in five states. Without his loving guidance, The Strand fell into disrepair once again before being vacated in 2002. Though the building deteriorated, the memories Zimmerman helped

make were not forgotten. Community leaders banded together to form the Friends of The Strand, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to reviving the beloved Marietta landmark. Thanks to generous donations from the community, The Strand underwent a massive $5 million renovation. On Jan. 8, 2009, the theater officially reopened as the Earl Smith Strand Theatre, in honor of the Cobb County businessman whose dedication helped restore the theatre. In addition to playing movies, the new Strand Theatre presented plays and musicals, live concerts, film festivals, comedy nights, and dozens of special events throughout the year. In 2017, the Strand was renamed again to the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre, after Smith donated $500,000 in honor of his late wife. Over 85 years, The Strand Theatre has seen its ups and downs, but the memories made at the theatre called the community to rally each time the beloved landmark was almost lost. Thanks to generations of citizens, today The Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre is the heart of Marietta’s thriving art and culture scene.

The Show Goes On

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