Houston & Alexander, PLLC - December 2021 / January 2022

Houston & Alexander, PLLC - December 2021 / January 2022

DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

HOUSTONALEXANDER.COM

CALL US: 423-267-6715

3 Ways to Survive Your Best Decisions SULLY FOUND CONFIDENCE WHILE FACING DOUBT

NO. 2: FOCUS ON WHAT’S IN YOUR CONTROL — IF IT ISN’T, RELINQUISH YOUR CONCERN.

When you make the right decisions in life, a band doesn’t appear on the scene to sing your praises. Often, your best decisions are private and very difficult to make. But how do you ultimately know whether or not you did the right thing? The movie “Sully,” directed by Clint Eastwood, confronts this question in a fascinating way. It’s based on the true story of Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and his decision to land his commercial plane in the Hudson River because he realized it wouldn’t make it to LaGuardia due to a rare engine failure. Although the survival rate for water landings is remarkably low, every single person lived. That’s 155 people, including two infants. Despite being a hero, the pilot faced enormous legal challenges afterward. To put it simply, insurance and the airline company didn’t want to pay for the damages. Captain Sully and his co-pilot were forced to constantly defend the best decision he could have made. Based on this true story and its movie adaptation, here’s how you, too, can cope with doubt about the most important decisions in your life.

If you’ve had a new job change you’re worried about, create a pros and cons list and see what you think. No matter what the results are, you can always consider your next steps toward a future you’ll be happier with. However, if you’ve landed a plane and saved 155 lives but face intense legal threats that could jeopardize your well-being and that of your family, you may feel like your emotional state is out of your control. That’s totally normal — it may even be healthy to allow yourself to feel disappointment, anger, and worry. Embracing your emotions may allow you to accept, overcome, and see past them faster.

NO. 3: DON’T DOUBT YOURSELF ALONE — FIND A LISTENING EAR.

As a hero, Sully felt very isolated in his unique situation of self- doubt; however, he was lucky to rely on his co-pilot, wife, and lawyers who knew his situation intimately. They considered it carefully themselves and assured him he was right. It’s easy to isolate yourself when you feel most vulnerable and afraid of being wrong. However, it might be worth opening up to a friend, or even a therapist, to talk about your doubts and why they may cause you anxiety or decision paralysis. Working through these phases in your life never has to be done alone — we all need help sometimes. While I’m not Captain Sully, these tips have helped me numerous times, and in some cases, I wish I had taken my own advice sooner! Thanks for reading, friends. I hope you’ll have a wonderful start to the holiday season. 1 423-267-6715 | HoustonAlexander.com

NO. 1: IN ANY CRISIS, ALWAYS FOCUS ON THE FIRST STEP.

When you’re in the pilot’s cockpit and alarm bells are going off, it’s easy to panic or, worse, freeze in terror. How do you stop yourself from doing that? Although it’s certainly easier said than done, you should put all of your energy into the initial action of dealing with the crisis. This step includes emotional crises, too, when you’re deep in self-doubt. What’s the first step to knowing you made the right decisions? It’s double-checking your work and talking to others who have been in similar positions. It can also mean being patient for results to come in. Focus on small steps, and after that, try this next step.

CREATING A HOLIDAY MASTERPIECE HOW TO DECORATE YOUR GINGERBREAD HOUSE LIKE A PRO

One of the most popular holiday traditions has become

Spice drops also make for a great trim and “roofing,” just use icing to hold them in place. Alternate between colors or use a variety to make your house really pop. M&Ms are certainly a must-have for anyone decorating their gingerbread house. Not only are they delicious, but they also make cute little accents all over the house and yard. Mini cookies of your choice may also make a deliciously good- looking roof. Try layering them up for a dimensional look! And, for extra pizazz, strategically place mini candy canes throughout the yard and on either side of the front doors and windows. If you want to get really detailed, try using actual candy bars as fire logs in the fireplace. Just be sure to store your gingerbread house in a cool area so nothing will melt! Whether you prefer a simple gingerbread house or a flashy one, any and ALL candy can be used! Get decorating and be sure to have a bite of candy along the way!

making and decorating gingerbread houses. The

tradition began in Germany in the early 1800s and originated from Grimm’s “Hansel and Gretel.” Some shy away from the idea of making their own gingerbread house, but have no fear — if the Germans did it in the early 1800s, so can you! To simplify things, many gingerbread houses come with baked pieces and a full decorating kit. This helps you have more time for the best part: the actual decorating! Each kit usually comes with fun candy and icing, so you can make something really kick- butt for the holidays! Icing will be your best friend. Think of it as the yummy glue that holds everything together while also acting as a colorful trim for your gingerbread house. However, because it’ll keep the house from falling, be sure to use a lot!

With These DIY Kitchen Storage Ideas! ACHIEVE MISE EN PLACE Fighting for Convent Real Estate KATY PERRY’S LEGAL BATTLE WITH NUNS

Katy Perry is known around the globe for having multiple No. 1 hits, including “I Kissed A Girl,” “Teenage Dream,” and “Firework,” but two nuns in Los Angeles know Perry for a completely different reason. They were in a multiyear legal battle with Perry and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles over the purchase of a convent. In 1972, the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary pooled their money and purchased an 8-acre, French-style chateau in Los Angeles. Sisters Rita Callanan and Catherine Rose Holzman lived in the chateau-turned-convent until 2011, when the Archdiocese of Los Angeles reportedly forced them to relocate. Two years later, Archbishop José Gomez sold the property to Perry without any input from the sisters, but the nuns felt that the archdiocese did not have the right to do this. Gomez accepted a $14.5 million cash offer from Perry, but the nuns refused to sell to her. Believing they had sole ownership of the convent, they instead sold it to restaurateur and developer Dana Hollister.

The archdiocese and Perry both sued Hollister for her involvement, claiming she took advantage of the nuns, and a judge invalidated her purchase months after it was made. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the archdiocese, creating an opportunity for Perry to buy the estate due to the fact that the nuns did not have the approval of the pope, the Holy See, or the archbishop. In 2017, a jury found that Hollister intentionally interfered with Perry’s legal purchase. She was ordered to pay both Perry and the archdiocese millions of dollars. The sisters continued to support Hollister, and they both accompanied her to bankruptcy court, where Sister Holzman collapsed and died during the court proceeding. Sister Callanan blamed Perry for the death of Holzman.

The convent is back on the market, and it does not appear that Perry will move forward with the purchase.

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Why Seeing an Attorney May Be Good for You! THE NEXT BIG HEALTH SECRET

Consulting with an attorney when you are facing legal trouble allows you to have an advocate and expert in your corner who is fighting for you and your rights. And according to recent studies, it may be good for your health too! According to NPR, a 2017 study of Veterans Affairs offices in Connecticut and New York found that veterans

While further studies are needed to corroborate this evidence, the message is clear: Finding solutions to your legal concerns through an attorney is healthy! This idea has led to several states permitting Medicaid patients to use some of their health care dollars toward legal clinical programs. For example, in Colorado, some chronically

But how does this work? To answer that question, we have to examine the toll stress takes on our bodies. Constant stress, like concerns about visitations or deportation, can cause our bodies to fail. This often leads to headaches, heartburn, a weakened immune system, insomnia, stomach problems, and more. These problems then compound into other issues, causing the body to spiral when intervention isn’t possible. However, when the source of stress is relieved, the side effects are eliminated as well. This can powerfully help people who are facing potentially life-altering legal situations. So, while your attorney may not be able to perform heart surgery or help alleviate your knee pain, their expertise may be just what you need to feel better in the long run. “I was in the United States on a work visa. I had an accident and was charged with DUI. This charge caused me great trouble both personally and professionally, as it affected my ability to stay in this country. It took a long time, and there were some difficulties, but Johnny’s legal knowledge and experience, as well as respect from the DAs and judges, all contributed to having my charges reduced. The staff at Houston & Alexander were also very responsive and informative and really went the extra mile. Thanks, thanks, thanks for helping me to expand my future.” –Eddy our clients say it best

who saw clinic attorneys reported improved mental health within three months after their initial meetings. Additionally, in Colorado, a five-year survey of 69 patients from 2015 to 2020 found that patients in Medicaid programs who saw attorneys at their clinics had a decrease in the amount of physical health problems they were facing.

ill patients are struggling with immigration issues or problems as a result of losing their jobs in the COVID-19 pandemic. By consulting with lawyers — in addition to psychiatrists, social workers, and medical doctors — patients are lowering their stress levels, improving their physical well-being, and staying closer to their families.

Happy Holidays from Houston & Alexander!

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 3 Ways to Survive Your Best Decisions Decorate Your Gingerbread House Like a Pro Katy Perry’s Real Estate Battle Your Attorney Is Good for Your Health! Happy Holidays Client Testimonial 3 Tips to Keep Your Bedroom Clean PAGE 1 PAGE 2 PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 3 PAGE 3 PAGE 4

Banish dust high and low. Your bedroom’s biggest threat to your health probably exists in the form of dust mites. These microscopic organisms live off the dead human skin found in dust, and while they prefer soft surfaces like your bedding, their presence anywhere can cause an allergic reaction. To keep your bedroom as dust-free as possible, start with the blades of your ceiling fan and give the tops a good scrub. Work your way down over furniture and shelving, ending at the baseboards. Don’t forget to clean the vent covers, which are dust magnets. Pay attention to your air quality. Central heating and air systems keep your house temperate but also circulate dust through the air. Make sure to change your filters as recommended by the manufacturer’s instructions. If you use any in-room devices like air purifiers, dehumidifiers, or window air conditioners, you should change the filters monthly.

Meanwhile, be mindful of mold — try to keep the room at 50% humidity or lower and clean any mold in and around windows immediately with a bleach/ chlorine solution. (Don’t forget to wear a protective mask!) Clean all your soft surfaces. You probably know to change and wash your sheets once a week, but what about all of the other soft surfaces in your bedroom, like outer bedding and curtains? In addition to the risk of dust mites, soft surfaces trap dirt and oils. Your comforter or bedspread should be washed every 1–2 months. Many people also forget about their pillows; protective pillow covers used under your pillowcase should be washed monthly, while pillows themselves should be washed 2–3 times per year. Lastly, your curtains collect dust, too — wash them 3–4 times annually. With the above tips, your bedroom will be cleaner and more relaxing than ever. Take in the clean air and fresh scents and enjoy a good night’s sleep.

A Clean Bedroom

When keeping your house clean, you probably focus on the major germ hotspots: kitchens and bathrooms. You may, however, be overlooking the room where you spend the most time — your bedroom. Is Good for Your Health 3 TIPS FOR A MORE RESTFUL SPACE Failure to thoroughly clean the place where you sleep can have negative effects on your health in terms of worsened allergies or asthma. Feel your best by following these three cleaning tips.

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