Law Office of Paul Black - March 2022

Law Office of Paul Black - March 2022

404.410.6820

www.Georgia-EstateLaw.com

March 2022

One of my resolutions this year was to read more books. I’ve always been a big reader — my dad used to read “The Chronicles of Narnia” to me when I was a little boy. Since that foundation, I found myself reading tons of books. I’m a sucker for any type of history or science fiction novel. I am currently re-reading “Siddartha” by Hermann Hesse with my wife right now. With my resolution in mind, I plan on reading or listening to an audiobook for at least 15 minutes a day before bed. Reading is very beneficial to your mind. You’re able to think about the plot, storyline, characters, and other factors in the book and create your own interpretations. I think that’s the beauty of reading — everyone can read the same book but have different interpretations of symbols that go along with what they think the meaning is. The act of reading trains your mind to think critically and imaginatively. By reading or listening to a story, you can empathize with what the characters are going through and derive hidden meanings you think are important. In “The Hobbit” or “The Lord of the Rings,” for example, you can imagine the characters and the monsters as current events that take place today. Although Tolkien didn’t like the allegories about atomic bombs or events during World War II, as the reader, you can interpret and make assumptions about how fictional pieces can help explain current events. Books can help us make sense of the world around us even if it wasn’t the author’s intention. I enjoy reading fiction because it helps exercise my moral imagination. It can be exhausting reading and learning about the events in the news each day. But reading fiction can provide you with allegories and symbolism that help you better understand the events going on today. For example, suppose you look back at some of the books you read as a child. In that THE BENEFITS OF READING Let Your Imagination Roam —With a Book!

case, you can now identify deeper meanings of in how the protagonists and antagonists resemble situations and events going on today.

As the saying goes — the book is always better than the movie. I agree with this statement because, by reading, you receive more information about the characters and the storyline, and you can also imagine what they look like, what they’re feeling, and what they’re going through. In turn, we can better empathize with others and the things they’re dealing with and improve our listening skills and memory. Reading has tons of benefits that can help improve your everyday life. It can strengthen the connections between different parts of your brain and create new neurons. That has to be a good thing! Happy reading!

Do you have estate planning or elder law-related questions? Write to me at [email protected] with “Asked and Answered” in the subject line. Your identity will be kept confidential. The opinions offered in this column are not intended to replace or substitute any financial, medical, legal, or other professional advice. -Paul Black

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5 HACKS TO TRY ADDING VALUE TO THE PENNY

DEWRINKLERS Wrinkly curtains are no match for pennies! When you take your crisp new curtains out of

Unless you enjoy holding up lines in the supermarket while you pay in pennies or lugging around a pocketbook full of little copper coins, pennies can be annoying. However, these shiny Lincoln heads can serve other surprising purposes to help simplify your life. SLUG REPELLENT Many gardeners surround their plants and crops with pennies in the soil. When slugs try to terrorize your garden, they’ll come into contact with the copper and zinc composition of the pennies and get a little electric shock. It’s a slug repellent alternative! PENNY RULER Pennies are exactly .75 inches in diameter. Thus, when you line up 16 pennies in a row, you have exactly a foot! It may seem like a lot of work, but in a pinch, if you really need to measure something, it’s certainly helpful. PENNY SCREWDRIVERS Have you ever been in a situation where you needed a screwdriver and didn’t have one handy? Well, if you had a penny in your pocket, you may still be able to drive a screw! If you insert the edge of a penny at a 15- or 20-degree angle, you should be able to loosen or tighten it.

the packaging and hang them up, insert pennies into the bottom hem. This will help to weigh down your curtains enough to combat any wrinkles.

TIRE TREAD CHECKERS This one is a well-known trick, but pennies can be used to determine when it’s time to invest in new tires. If you insert a penny into your tire’s tread with Lincoln’s head pointing down and you’re able to see all of his head, your tread is worn and you need new tires. P.S. It’s worth mentioning that pennies minted prior to 1982 are more valuable because they are much richer in copper, so don’t go tossing those in your garden or stowing them away in your curtains! While the penny can be a tad cumbersome to carry around, and they don’t buy much of anything anymore, be sure to put them to good use even if it’s not for currency!

How to Choose the Right One NEED A LAWYER?

Most people hope they’ll

sponsored events, have published books or articles on their specialty, or belong to any professional organizations.

never need to hire a lawyer, but sometimes life has other plans. Unexpected injuries, divorces, bankruptcies, or even criminal matters are stressful situations. Luckily, good

Are they experienced? You shouldn’t hire an estate planning attorney when you need help with immigration, but you’ll need to get even more specific than that. Every legal case is unique, so you should find the best fit for you. If you’ve been injured, don’t just find any personal injury attorney — find one who has handled cases with injuries similar to yours. The knowledge they’ll bring with them will be invaluable and could be the difference between a win or a loss. Are you comfortable with them? You don’t need to be best friends with your lawyer, but you should be comfortable being in the same room with them. If they seem disinterested or dismissive, they’re not a good fit for you. Plus, you will need to share countless details with your attorney, often of a very personal nature. If you can’t open up, you simply won’t get the best outcome. Lastly, don’t make a difficult situation worse by rushing to choose representation before you’re ready. Take your time to review options until you feel confident with your decision. Time may be of the essence but so is your peace of mind.

attorneys can help!

If you need a lawyer, finding the right one can feel overwhelming — but don’t choose rashly. Your attorney can make or break your case. Here are three questions to consider when selecting one.

Are they highly regarded? You want a lawyer who’s known to be good at what they do, so take the time to do some research. Through online reviews, it’s now easier than ever to find out what past clients have to say. You can also gauge an attorney’s reputation by researching whether they participate in bar-

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BARRIER

MAKE A 4-LEAF CLOVER KEEPSAKE BUT FIND THE ELUSIVE GOOD-LUCK CHARM FIRST

One of St. Patrick’s Day’s most popular symbols is a four-leaf clover. In Ireland, these clovers represent luck and good fortune. Each leaf on the clover has a different meaning — faith, hope, love, and success. It’s a tradition to find a four-leaf clover on St. Patrick’s Day and do activities involving this lucky leaf. So, how do you find these good-luck charms, and what can you do with them? HOW TO FIND A 4-LEAF CLOVER Although it may seem difficult, it’s easier than you might think. First, find a dense patch of white clover — near it is where four-leaf clovers reside. They are different from the rest and are often smaller, so keep that in mind when you look for the lucky green clovers. Instead of staring at the patch in close detail and counting leaves, search the patch without focusing on the tiny details. This increases the odds of eyeing a four-leaf clover because the different patterns, shapes, and sizes of these clovers will jump out at you. If you find one, keep looking! There’s a chance another one might be nearby. CLOVER CRAFT Once you find your clover, preserve the luck in it all year by placing it in a picture frame. First, gently press the clover leaves between the pages of a large book for several days to flatten them out. After pressing, you can add green food coloring to your clover to enhance its color. Once it’s dry, clean it and let it sit overnight. Then, place your clover onto acid-free paper, cut to fit the size of a picture frame of your choice. Next, use acid-free glue to keep your clover in place, and finally, seal your frame shut. You now have your personal good luck charm! Searching for a four-leaf clover and creating a keepsake will be a great bonding experience for you and your family. We wish you luck! Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Inspirational MOMENT

Is the chill of winter lingering? A hot bowl of this Asian-inspired soup will warm you right up! Our recipe makes 4–5 servings. Simple Bok Choy Chicken Soup Inspired by TheSpruceEats.com

INGREDIENTS

• • • • • • •

3 cups chicken broth 1 tsp red pepper flakes

2 tsp soy sauce 2 tsp sesame oil

1 garlic clove, chopped

10 leaves bok choy, thinly sliced 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken

“We become what we think about.” –Earl Nightingale

1. In a medium saucepan, bring chicken broth to a boil. 2. Stir in red pepper flakes, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic. 3. Add bok choy leaves and rotisserie chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the bok choy is dark green and tender. 4. Enjoy with slices of your favorite whole‑wheat bread! DIRECTIONS

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Decatur Office Location: Main Location One West Court Square, Suite 750 | Decatur, GA 30030

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

Fiction Can Help Us Interpret the Real World

2

5 Hacks to Add Value to a Penny What to Consider Before Hiring a Lawyer

3

Create a Keepsake for Good Luck Year Round Inspirational Moment Simple Bok Choy Chicken Soup

4

Profiles in Perseverance

PROFILES IN PERSEVERANCE Family-Owned Business Helps People in Need

Since the beginning of the pandemic, many Atlantans and their families have been threatened with food insecurity. Around 13% of Georgians have to choose between buying food or paying bills. But a Texas-based company called Kiolbassa Smoked Meats wants to help provide for families in need. Kiolbassa Smoked Meats created a special needs program called Links of Love, which makes food specifically for food banks, and Georgia has benefited from this organization tremendously. They donated 2 tons of food to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and were able to help tons of families in Atlanta. Kyle Waide, president and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, said, “We are very grateful to the Kiolbassa family for their contribution. … Their generosity helps the food bank continue to grow … [so] we can distribute to hungry neighbors through our network of food pantry partners.” The owner of Kiolbassa Smoked Meats, Mike Kiolbassa, said, “We all know there are ups and downs in every family, in every business. We all need help. None of us get through this on our own … we are all in this

together.” Kiolbassa and his employees make and donate 10,000 pounds of food across the country per month.

This tradition of giving has been around since World War II. The founder of Kiolbassa Smoked Meats, Rufus Kiolbassa, was a meat salesman during the war. Meat purchases were rationed during this time, and Rufus had difficulty deciding who would receive the meat rations he had available. This inspired him to open Kiolbassa Smoked Meats in 1949. His legacy remains strong as his family continues to run the business and help those in need. Links of Love helps those experiencing food insecurity, disaster, or both. They create pork dinners that are fully cooked and easy to prepare for families in need. To donate food across America and Mexico, they partnered with Feeding America and Mercy Chefs to help them with their program. Thank you, Kiolbassa Smoked Meats and Links of Love, for providing food for my fellow Atlantans and other communities in the United States. Your hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed.

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