Johnson Law Group - January 2021

Johnson Law Group - January 2021

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JAN 2021

‘AND I'LL SING ONCEMORE’ CELEBRATING NATIONAL HOBBY MONTH

Singing has been central to my life for as long as I can remember. My mother has said I started singing even before I could talk. As a toddler, I would sing very loudly (scream, really!) every chance I got, most distractingly while riding in my car seat. One time, during my sister’s violin lesson, the violin teacher told my mother she thought I was singing “The Four Seasons” by Vivaldi (which was played often in my mother’s car). My mother then realized I must have been singing that whole time!

reason why first became clear to me just a few weeks ago when Myles, our nephew Tyler, and I watched the movie “The Sound of Music.” The film tells the touching true story of the von Trapp family singers in 1930s Austria. Based on the memoir “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers,” the movie focuses on a young nun, Maria, who is sent to live with a retired naval officer and his seven children after the passing of their mother. Maria (played by Julie Andrews) has an insatiable love for singing and dancing, which she shares with the children, much to the disapproval of their stern father, Baron von Trapp (played by Christopher Plummer). Remarkably, the movie exposed truths in my heart that I had buried for 20 years. Now, I do not usually cry in movies, but this movie really got me. Watching the uptight Baron von Trapp join his children in singing “The Hills Are Alive,” was transformative for me when I considered how long he had suppressed music from his life. As the tears rolled down, my mind raced back to when I was in elementary school. I had just learned my choir director, Ken, moved out of state. He was my only teacher who not only said he believed in me but also made great efforts to show it. I thought back specifically to the annual Christmas play put on by my childhood church, when Ken had chosen me to portray Mary, the mother of Jesus. This selection may not seem like a big deal to some, but to the child version of me — terribly unsure of my place in the small Texas town where I was raised — being chosen in this way was an incredible validation of my belonging.

And so, when Ken suddenly departed from my town, the impact on me was devastating. Having gotten insufficient answers as to what happened and why, I ultimately connected my pain and confusion with the act of singing itself. As a result, I completely lost my vision for singing, despite it always having been in my heart as a little girl. I then proceeded to create a false self of one who was “nervous” to sing in front of others. This was completely inconsistent with who I was and how important singing was to me. These truths were somehow first revealed to me in my adult life while I heard Baron von Trapp singing to his children after years of withholding his love for music. Although I would say that singing is still my favorite hobby, I cannot help but think of all the opportunities I have passed up over the years to sing publicly. However, unlike before, I now feel excited to do something different with this hobby. I am not certain of my next steps, but I do know it will start by creating objectives and key results for making a stronger commitment to singing in my life now that I fully understand the choices that have led me here. As I go on this journey, I pray it will not only bring me more joy, but that it will also help me show others the beauty of music as a teaching tool and life companion. Whatever hobby it is that you enjoy most, want to start for the first time, or have drifted away from, I pray that for this National Hobby Month, you are able to enjoy it to the fullest!

“My mother has said I started singing even before I could talk.”

From the ages of 3–19, I took a variety of classical voice, violin, and piano lessons. Looking back now as a mother, I strongly believe musical training can help strengthen cognitive development, teach us how to express and connect with a variety of emotions, and provide relief from stress and anxiety. This makes it a wonderful hobby for anyone to start at any time. Of my music activities, singing has always come most naturally to me. There was a long point in my life, however when I stopped singing. The

–Genet Johnson

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OUT WITH THE NEW, IN WITH THE OLD!

SPOTLIGHT ON RACHEL M. AMSPOKER, ASSO Achieving Her Life Goal by Serving P

We are very excited to share our recent addition of Rachel M. Amspoker as an associate attorney! At Johnson Law Group, Rachel dedicates her time to helping individuals and families in need, something she has long aspired to do. During Rachel’s upbringing in California, she believed the law field would be a good option for her. “My dad is an attorney,” she says. “I think that’s what helped me be aware that it was an option for me, too.” Although her father helped her get comfortable with the idea of law, she herself chose to pursue it as a career. “Dad never pressured me to be an attorney,” Rachel says. “But I’ve definitely always been interested in law. It made sense, and I knew that if I pursued it in school and as a career, it would lead to some good opportunities. I’ve always liked talking to and working with people too, and I have learned there are so many options to do that within the field. Being someone that a person can look to for help is all I have ever wanted to do and how I want to live my life. Now, that’s exactly what I do for people at Johnson Law Group.”

4 Old-School Hobbies

Making a Major Comeback

January is National Hobby Month — and for good reason! As people set goals for 2021, they’re also thinking about trying new hobbies. But with so many out there, picking just one can be a hobby in itself. Thanks in part to COVID-19, many people have rediscovered old- school hobbies. Some of these have been around for decades or even longer, and others have established communities that can rely on one another for support, sharing information, and more. Here are four great examples. Making Bread Over the last year, interest in this ancient hobby has skyrocketed. Homemade bread is tastier and more nutritious than store-bought, and it’s so satisfying to watch it come together. Not to mention it’s a great skill to have! With so many types of bread to try, you’re not going to run out of ideas any time soon. CollectingCards No matter what people were into during the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, there was a trading card game for it. And even going into 2021, that tradition has been kept alive. When many people were stuck at home last year, they rediscovered their card collections and remembered howmuch fun they were. As a result, card sales went through the roof, and online card communities lit up with activity from all over the world. Restoring Cars Car restoration is a hobby that lets you get your hands dirty, and it's one that you can do with your kids or grandkids. It can be not only educational for them but also fun! Together, you can track down parts, talk to folks who are also interested in restoration, and learn about the history of your car. Though car restoration can be a bit costly and time consuming, it’s certainly a journey worth taking. Embroidering Embroidery has taken off because it’s both inexpensive and fairly easy to get into. Plus, many people have fallen in love with its meditative quality. One of the great things about embroidery is that you can use it to make amazing personalized gifts, like pillows, wall hangings, and kitchen towels!

Rachel attended University of Colorado Boulder for law school and interned at the U.S. District of Colorado and the First Judicial District Court before Johnson

HOWHABIT RESOLUTIONS CO

Yearly resolutions are so last year … if they’re your only resolutions, that is.

Having long-term goals isn’t a bad thing, but do you have a daily plan to reach them? The huge boost of motivation in January isn’t always enough to

sustain you all year long. That’s why there are major benefits to starting new healthy habits, whether you increase your weekly exercise time, eat healthier foods, or work on getting better or more sleep.

Luckily, sticking with these habits might be as easy as making daily resolutions to complement your yearly goals.

BJ Fogg, a Stanford University professor and author of “Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything,” notes that tiny habits can make a new habit easy to implement into your daily ritual. For example, taking a short daily walk could lead to an exercise habit, or keeping an apple in your bag every day could encourage healthier snacking.

It’s important that you stick with it because habits take a long time to create. One study published by the European Journal of Social Psychology asked people

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THE GOOD NEWS!

fe People

OCIATE ATTORNEY

Law Group. Since joining our team, Rachel has

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” –Deuteronomy 31:8

shown how dedicated she is to the families we help daily. She works hard to guide them

through their cases and does very well at explaining difficult concepts in clear and simple terms. Rachel is also a strong reflection of our core values and our culture, and her warm personality makes it a pleasure to work with her. “When I met my team for the first time, everyone was so open, nice, and professional,” she explains. “I could tell the people here loved what they do. Everyone here is welcoming, and it’s honestly one of the best work environments I’ve been in. We have a very positive environment here.” In Rachel’s free time, you can find her hiking, skiing, or doing other outdoor activities. Through the winter months, she especially enjoys spending time with her cat and watching movies.

Easy One-Pot Lentil Soup

This delicious plant-based soup is loaded with vegetables, so it’s a healthy way to stay warm on a winter night! This recipe makes four servings, and you can freeze the leftovers for up to a month.

T TRACKING AND DAILY OULD TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE

Ingredients

• • • • • • •

2 tbsp coconut oil

• • •

3 cups red potatoes, cubed 4 cups vegetable broth 2–3 sprigs fresh rosemary or thyme, chopped 1 cup uncooked green lentils, rinsed and drained

about a simple habit they wanted to form, like drinking water at lunch or taking a walk before dinner. They found that the average amount of time it took before the action became automatic was 66 days! Don’t be too hard on yourself if you miss a day, but know that sticking to a new habit is serious work, so starting small might help you out. Another important aspect of forming new daily habits is rewarding yourself. Bad habits, like smoking, have an inherent reward. However, healthy habits can have rewards too! Try consuming a bit of dark chocolate after a workout or treating yourself to a fresh beverage or relaxing to a podcast after tackling an important task. Find ways to reward yourself, and you’ll be more likely to stick to your new habit. Certain daily resolutions don’t have to be related to exercise or diet to majorly improve your life. For example, having a gratitude journal might boost your long-term happiness by 10% and improve your blood pressure. Don’t hesitate to improve your quality of life! Just start small, and you’ll be amazed by how far you’ll go.

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 shallots, diced

4 large carrots, sliced thin 4 stalks celery, sliced thin

•

Sea salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

•

2 cups chopped kale

Directions

1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat and sauté garlic, shallots, carrots, and celery for 4–5 minutes, adding salt and pepper to taste. 2. Add potatoes to pot, along withmore salt and pepper. Sauté for 2minutes. 3. Add vegetable broth and herbs, then bring soup to a simmer. 4. Add lentils, stirring until soup returns to a simmer. Then, turn the heat to low and cook soup uncovered for 15–20 minutes. 5. Finally, add kale and additional salt and pepper as needed. Cook for 3–4 minutes, thin soup with additional vegetable broth as needed, and serve!

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Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com

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INSIDE

Rediscovering My Long Lost Hobby

These Old-School Hobbies Are Making a Huge Comeback

Spotlight on Rachel M. Amspoker

How Habit Tracking and Daily Resolutions Could Transform Your Life

The Good News!

Easy One-Pot Lentil Soup

Local Events in the New Year

A PERFECT START

Mindful Mingle – Anxiety & Stress Support When: Jan. 7 & Jan. 21, 8–9 p.m. MST

or looking to launch one, this fundraising program is perfect for you. Entrepreneurs will have the chance to learn the effectiveness of bootstrapping, how to get in touch and work with professional investors, when and how to use crowdfunding, and much more. Get the most out of 2021 and help your business through this program! Making a Home for Houseplants When: Every Monday, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. EST Where: Online Admission: Free! Website: TheSocietyX.com Caring for houseplants has become a popular hobby, and thanks to social media, plant lovers have formed a large community. If you’re looking to join this community and gain a few green friends yourself, join Herban Garden founder Jocelyn Perez-Blanco who brings her background in biology to this discussion on basic houseplant care. Visit Society X’s

Where: RiNo Art Park Admission: Donations Website: HabitualRoots.com

A support group is made up of individuals who create a safe space for people struggling with similar issues to connect and heal. This group is for anyone struggling with daily stress and anxiety and includes helpful practices such as meditation and mindfulness. As we leave a stressful year behind us, this group can be just what you need to start 2021 refreshed. Learn more about the community by visiting the website above.

TO A NEW YEAR If you’re looking to start the new year with a bang, here are a few events to get you started!

Fundraising for Startup Businesses When: Jan. 1–15, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. MST

Where: Video meeting Admission: $30–$75 Website: LakshmanSingh.com

website above to join the discussion and find even more classes to attend.

2020 was challenging for businesses, but 2021 is a brand-new year. If you’re an entrepreneur and have a startup

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