GA Injury Advocates - February 2021

GA Injury Advocates - February 2021

Auto Injury T R I B U N E

February 2021

To Know How the Rest of the Year Will Unfold You Don’t Need a Crystal Ball

I recently had a conversation with some good friends that included some speculation about how the rest of this year will unfold. We’ve got a new president, there’s progress on the vaccine front, and it feels like we could be on track for a totally different year. Or are we? I told my friends, “I know what this year is going to be like. It’s going to be exactly like last year.” They laughed. In so many ways, 2020 was unprecedented. How could 2021 be exactly the same?! The answer is pretty simple, really: Every year is going to be the same until you decide to change yourself. We don’t have control over the external things that happen in our lives, whether that’s falling in love or living through a life-altering pandemic. If it had been in our power, I know most of us would have chosen for things to go differently last year!

Learning how to handle those disappointments and work through them is akin to getting a warm pair of winter boots with good tread. Both allow you to move more gracefully. 2. Take advantage of the spring. The first spring blossoms are so welcome after a long winter, but you know what? They won’t last! Instead of mourning that, enjoy them as much as you can while they’re here. Spring is a time of opportunity, and you have to take advantage when those opportunities arise. Life is short and nothing is guaranteed, so stop and smell the flowers while they’re blooming. 3. Protect your crops in the summer. If you’ve ever grown a garden, you know how gratifying it is to see your little seedlings turn into edible fruits and veggies. But to see those seedlings grow, you have to protect them from bugs and weeds. It’s the same in the summers of our lives, we have to protect what we’ve grown from outside attacks. Once you’ve worked hard to build something, put supports in place to ensure it’s longevity. 4. Learn how to reap in the fall without complaining. This is similar to the concept of reaping what you sow. The idea is to take full responsibility for anything that happens to you. Did you grow an awesome garden in the summer or have a record-breaking quarter at work? Awesome. Be happy and enjoy it. Did you forget to water your plants or fail to meet your quarterly goals? Instead of blaming someone else or complaining, own up to your mistake. What season are you in right now in your life? Whether you’re having a dark winter moment or enjoying a sweet but fleeting spring-like stage, remember the four lessons above. While you cannot change those circumstances, you can change how you react to them. And if all else fails, remember that no matter what, sooner or later, a new season will arrive.

But there’s one thing we can always change, and that change will lead to our happiness or sadness, our frustration or triumph. That thing is ourselves.

I listen to a lot of talks by life coaches, like Tony Robbins and Jim Rowan. In one of those recent lectures, the speaker tied this concept in with the idea of the changing seasons. The seasons are like the outside forces I mentioned above. We can’t control the weather, but we do know that just as the sun rises and sets, summer will turn into fall, fall into winter, and winter into spring. Similarly, difficulty follows opportunity, and recession follows progression. Though most of us have a favorite and least favorite season —we may be in yours right now! — each one plays an important role. That’s true for the literal seasons of the Earth and the metaphorical seasons of our changing lives. Here are the lessons of the four seasons of change. 1. Learn how to handle the winters. I’ve gotta tell you, this is the one that really sticks with me. I guess the hard things always do! And some winters are going to be hard, but instead of wishing things were easier, start wishing you were better able to handle them. In the winters of our lives, we may experience a broken heart, an unprofitable quarter (or year!), or any other number of disappointments. But these are unavoidable. I mean, who hasn’t had a broken heart?

El Abogado Ramiro (El Abogado Amigo) y su equipo hablan español

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(770) 233-7400

LOVE BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEMAND LIFESPAN

MAKE FRIENDS AROUND THEWORLD A Quick Guide to Forming Lasting Online Friendships

HIGH QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

We’ve entered a new age of creating online friendships, and many are embracing them now more than ever before. Those in our online circles can provide tremendous support, and online communities make it easier to find people we connect with and who have similar interests or identities. Of course, meeting people digitally poses many new questions: How do we find these friends? What are the social expectations? If you’re curious about how to meet new people online, here are a few guidelines! First, decide what kind of people you want to meet. Do you want to meet fellow creatives? Tennis players? Doctors? Find where your online community gathers! There’s a forum or circle for every type of person and interest. Your community could be on Facebook, Twitter, or another site. Join those platforms and start finding your people by searching for hashtags or looking at groups to join.

It doesn’t take a scientist to tell us that a healthy, loving relationship can lessen 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!

Second, respond to people’s posts, send messages, and participate in online events. A great way to make new friends is by showing an interest. In the online environment, this means interacting virtually. Don’t be shy. Respond to what people are saying or send them personal messages. Ask questions to extend the conversation and learn more about someone. Or, jump into some open online events (even locally hosted ones!) to learn something new and meet new people!

Third, don’t feel pressured to make your online circle your new life. It’s possible to get a little too invested in your online community and lose track of your in-person pals. But, in many ways, that doesn’t make online friendships much different from nonvirtual ones. Keeping your virtual friendships casual once you’ve established a connection is just like any friendship; communication is key. Lastly, don’t give out personal information — ever. It’s standard protocol for online friends to avoid talking about personal details, such as their last name, address, family members’ names, where they work, etc. If your new online “friend” starts pestering you to learn this information (they may even pretend it’s for a good reason), don’t trust them. You may want to have video calls and interact with an online friend for years before ever meeting in person.

We hope this guide helps you make the most of your online adventure! Happy virtual mingling!

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Yes, You Need a License to Drive a Moped in Georgia In Georgia, They’re More Complicated Than You Think!

The number of ways to get around seems to be forever

• They are required to wear appropriate protective headgear (i.e., a helmet). • They can only drive on roads where the speed limit is 35 mph or less. • They may not exceed a speed of 30 mph. • They must obey all traffic laws. Interestingly, in Georgia, there are two things that are not required : Mopeds do not need to be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles, and moped operators are not required to carry insurance. What’s the difference between a moped and a scooter? Though the two are commonly confused, mopeds are different from scooters. The size of the motor is the important factor Georgia state law uses to distinguish between them. A scooter is a motor-driven vehicle with an engine larger than 50 cubic centimeters, while a moped has an engine smaller than 50 cubic centimeters, as mentioned above. Under Georgia state law, scooters are treated like motorcycles, and the two have the same licensing, registration, and insurance requirements, which are akin to what’s required of car drivers. Additionally, scooter riders must be at least 17 years old. If you’re ready to downside your rig and feel the wind at your back on a moped, make sure you know the state laws first and follow them while you enjoy your (slow) ride.

multiplying. It’s important to be

informed about the rules and regulations for your chosen form of transport, and regulations for some of the less common options, like mopeds, are not as well-known. What makes a moped a moped? Before you can determine what’s required of you as a driver, you first have to determine what you’re driving. The Georgia Department of Driver Services defines a moped as “any motor-driven cycle with an engine not exceeding 50 cubic centimeters (3.05 cubic inches).” In essence, the size of the motor is what determines if the vehicle is a moped or its faster cousin, a scooter. What’s required to drive a moped in Georgia? There is a specific set of requirements for moped riders in Georgia, some of which differ from laws governing car and motorcycle drivers. The main requirements for moped operators are as follows: • They are required to have a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit and must be at least 15 years old.

RECIPE:

SUDOKUU

ZUCCHINI NOODLES WITH TURKEY BOLOGNESE

If you love spaghetti, you’ll love these zucchini noodles!

Ingredients

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1 tbsp garlic, minced

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1 tsp salt

1/2 cup onions, diced small

1/2 tsp pepper

1 lb ground turkey

2 tsp sugar

1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes

3 medium zucchini

2 tbsp tomato paste

Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Directions 1.

5.

In a large sauté pan over medium-low heat, warm 2 tbsp olive oil. Add garlic and onions and stir constantly until garlic is golden and onions are translucent. Increase heat to medium and add ground turkey, break apart, and cook thoroughly. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and sugar. Reduce heat to low. Stir occasionally.

Using a spiralizer, mandolin, or vegetable peeler, cut the zucchini into noodles. In another large sauté pan over medium- low heat, add remaining olive oil and zucchini noodles, tossing constantly for 2 minutes until slightly wilted. Plate the zucchini noodles, top with the turkey Bolognese, and garnish with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

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Solution on Page 4

(770) 233-7400 3 If you or a loved one has been injured, call our office today for a free consultation.

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Solution from Page 3

Inside

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Ramiro Can Predict Your 2021! How to Make Friends Around the World High Quality Relationships Lower Blood Pressure Do You Need a License to Drive a Moped in Georgia? Zucchini Noodles With Turkey Bolognese

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Touring Cobb County

It’s true. You can walk from Cobb County right to the Alabama state line on the Silver Comet Trail. This 61.5-mile paved trail was converted from the old Seaboard Air Line Railroad, which whisked passengers to and from New York on a gleaming luxury passenger train for which the trail was later named: the Silver Comet. The line operated from 1947 to 1969, after which it sat defunct until 1992, when the Georgia Department of Transportation bought it in hopes of converting it into a non- motorized trail. The converted trail opened to the public in 1998 and walkers, bikers, hikers, skaters, and even horseback riders have been enjoying it since. The trail is paved, 12 feet wide, and mostly level, making it accessible to and great for wheelchair users. Though the old tracks are no longer visible, remnants of the railroad remain. Check out the 100-foot high, 700-foot long Pumpkinvine Creek Trestle at mile marker 23 and the Brushy Mountain Tunnel, which is also 700 feet long, at marker 38. In addition to the railroad-related sites, trail users have access

to 15 restrooms, 10 fountains, and many opportunities to access trailside services while on the Silver Comet. Access the trail from the Mavell Road Trailhead in Smyrna, 13 miles northwest of Atlanta. From there, you can trek as long as you like, first through residential sections and later through a landscape of pine stands and farmland. If you’re up to walk or bike the entire 61.5 miles of the trail, you’ll end up in Esom, right by the Alabama state line. Trail users who make it that far can reward themselves with a visit to the restored train depot in Cedartown, which now serves as a historical museum and an ode to the days of train travel. Admission is free, and the museum is family-friendly. The trail runs through three Georgia counties, each of which manages its section independently. To learn more about the Silver Comet Trail and find easy links to local country websites about current safety precautions and other access points, visit SilverCometGA.com .

ON THE SILVER COMET TRAIL

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