Littlejohn Law LLC - August 2021

Littlejohn Law LLC - August 2021

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM

740-314-4829

08/21

BUILD IT. PROTECT IT. PRESERVE IT.

Several years ago, I went on a trip to Tempe, Arizona, and while there, we spent a day hiking in some hills near the city. I remember seeing one particularly tall hill that I knew must have a great view of the surrounding area at the top. It didn’t look too terribly hard to climb, and I could see a path that seemed to lead to the top. So, we started on our way. I had researched these hills a little bit online before hiking that day, and in reality, none of them were like mountains. They didn’t seem like they would be that difficult to summit. However, in the hot Arizona sun, I soon found that the journey wasn’t as easy as I would have liked it to be — especially when I realized that the nice, walkable, paved path didn’t take us all the way to the top! If I wanted to get to the top of this mountain-esque hill and take in the view, I was going to have to walk up the rough side of the hill, which would mean stepping off the designated path and getting my shoes a little dirty. Life is like that sometimes, right? You think you have everything all planned out, you start to follow the path forward to a specific goal, and you think for just a moment that maybe you’ll be able to reach the top of the mountain from the smooth side. In actuality, just like getting to the top of a hill in Tempe on a hot summer day, you’ll almost certainly have to deal with struggles before you reach your goal. FINDING OPPORTUNITY ON THE ROUGH SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN

at the first sign of adversity because, oftentimes, on the other side of that is opportunity. Through adversity, we have the opportunity to discover our true potential, and our true character. This past year and a half, we’ve all shared a crisis: the COVID-19 pandemic. It presented struggles and hardship of different kinds for virtually every person on the planet. At our office, we had to deal with a lot of uncertainty. We had to find additional help for different roles, and we had to find new ways to streamline and systemize different processes. In short, we had to adapt — and that’s a good thing! Adapting to your circumstances, even if it means stepping away from the path you’ve been taking for so long, is ultimately how you’ll succeed in reaching your goals. It’s never easy, but it’s always possible. The rough side of the mountain will always test you, but you have to remain faithful to your goal and your ability to achieve it. I made it to the top of that hill in Tempe, Arizona, and the view was absolutely worth it. But in order to do that, I had to let go of the handrails, leave the pavement, and trudge up some rough terrain in the heat. How can you adapt to the challenging circumstances you’re in right now? What difficult steps do you need to take to get to the opportunity on the other side of adversity?

–Edward Littlejohn

We all face struggles and crises in life, but that’s no reason to give up. We can’t just throw in the towel

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM | 1

STAY SHARP AS YOU AGE

BY GOING BACK TO SCHOOL

While you may be happy for the years of wisdom you’ve gained since being in your 20s and 30s, you might be missing the mental sharpness you once had. Why not have the best of both worlds? Scientists have found that the human brain changes with age — neurons fire more slowly, for example, and short-term memory recall can be more challenging — but that we often underestimate our capacity to continue learning as we grow older. Negative stereotypes about aging can reinforce these beliefs. However, new research is showing that older adults who’ve committed to immersive study of a new subject show brain function akin to someone 30 years younger. This goes beyond the tired advice to do a crossword puzzle or work a sudoku puzzle every day. The participants in this research study were learning entirely new-to-them subjects, like how to speak a foreign language, use a new piece of technology, or make art. Convinced of the benefits but not sure where to turn to learn? Try these two sources. Most colleges are designed with the traditional, 20-something college student in mind, which may not appeal or be a great fit for adults in their 50s, 60s, and beyond. But many universities are starting to cater to an older crowd with lifelong learning programs. One example is the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Washington (UW). UW’s program offers a full course schedule on subjects in the arts, sciences, and current events taught by qualified faculty and provided at an affordable rate. There are over 100 such programs at universities across the U.S. Have a longtime dream to write children’s books? UC San Diego Extension has a certificate program for that! If you’re looking to dive into a single subject or perhaps you’d like to continue working in retirement or shift gears later in your career, certificate

programs are a great option. No previous education is required. Most certificate programs are open to all, typically run for less than a year, and easily accommodate part-time learners. Celebrate your years of hard-earned wisdom but commit to keeping your brain young by going back to school this fall.

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE: WEDNESDAYS INWINTERSVILLE FESTIVAL

The first two have been a big hit! Wednesdays in Wintersville is located in the business district along the main street in Wintersville. It provides an evening of family fun every first Wednesday from 4–8 p.m. (Aug. 4, Sept. 1, and Oct. 6)

2 | 740-314-4829 This newsletter is for informational purposes only and no legal advice is intended. Be sure to consult with this law firm if you have a specific question about your situation. And remember, Edward and Jeff don’t take any unplanned inbound telephone or in-person meetings. We believe each case deserves our undivided attention.

FEATURED RESOURCE OF THE MONTH Check out the Littlejohn Law Video Library, which includes helpful tips, strategies, and advice — free resources that you would have to pay other law firms for. Don’t see an answer to your specific question? Submit it to our team, and we’ll answer that in our “Question of the Week” video series.

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN?

Happy 84th birthday to Grandma Brown!

For more information, please visit LittlejohnLawLLC.com/video.

Kyzlee’s baby brother has arrived … Zade Edward Littlejohn (pronounced like the word

SUMMER VEGETABLE GREEK SALAD

”made” with a “Z”) at 8.14 pounds and 22 inches long!

Inspired by CookieAndKate.com

INGREDIENTS

For the vinaigrette: • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar • 1 tsp Dijon mustard • 1 garlic clove, minced • 1 tsp dried oregano • 1/2 tsp honey • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil For the salad: • 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved • 1 small cucumber,

seeded and chopped

• 1 cup yellow bell pepper, chopped • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped • 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved • 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled • Optional protein choices: 1 cup cooked chickpeas or 6 oz Genoa salami

Kyzlee is hanging out with Grandpa and her friends this summer.

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, garlic, oregano, honey, and salt. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking until well combined. 2. In a large serving bowl, toss together the romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, parsley, olives, and feta (as well as the chickpeas or salami, if desired). 3. If you plan to serve all the salad at once, drizzle the dressing over the salad to lightly coat, then toss to combine. Otherwise, store the vinaigrette and salad separately, then dress each portion before serving.

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM | 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

352 FRANK LAYMAN BLVD. WINTERSVILLE, OH 43953

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM 740-314-4829

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

FINDING OPPORTUNITY ON THE ROUGH SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN

2

GOING BACK TO SCHOOL LATER IN LIFE

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE

3

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN?

FEATURED RESOURCE OF THE MONTH

SUMMER VEGETABLE GREEK SALAD

4

THE BEST INTERNATIONAL DISHES THAT REQUIRE NO ELECTRICITY

THE BEST INTERNATIONAL DISHES THAT REQUIRE NO ELECTRICITY

MEDITERRANEAN HUMMUS

Around the world, electricity can be difficult to come by. But that hasn't stopped people from creating beautiful, innovative dishes. Here's how you can explore world cuisine in your home without electricity — and for this article, we’ll skip things you can make with a wood-burning stove or oven, too.

chuck — beef cheeks and tongue also work! — and add freely crushed garlic cloves, white onion, black peppercorns, salt, and fresh Mexican oregano to achieve the classic barbacoa flavor.

No need for tahini — just smash canned garbanzo beans until smooth! Add olive oil, ground cumin, salt,

SPANISH GAZPACHO This is a great, refreshing soup for summer! Get 2 cups of tomato juice, 4 medium peeled and finely chopped tomatoes (feel free to use canned), 1/2 cup peeled

pepper, and lemon juice to taste. You can even mix in fresh crushed garlic. It is delicious with crunchy vegetables or flatbread!

INDIAN INSTANT MANGO PICKLES

MEXICAN BARBACOA Earth ovens are one of humanity’s oldest ways of preparing food. They’re created by digging at least a 3-by-3-foot hole in

Want to add an interesting, sweet-and-sour condiment to your toast or family barbecue? Prepare these fast, pickled mangoes by using either

and chopped cucumber, 1/3 cup finely chopped onion, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 minced garlic clove, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix it together in a bowl, and you’ve got a classic, easy gazpacho. Thanks for reading, and we hope you pick up a new family-favorite recipe from these ideas!

jarred or fresh mangoes. Cover mango strips with salt, then add an equally small amount of asafoetida (can substitute with onion powder, garlic powder, or fresh fried garlic), turmeric powder, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, chili powder, and mustard oil. Mix well and enjoy this incredible flavor bomb immediately!

the ground, adding hot coals, tightly wrapping food (with burlap or foil in modern day), and replacing the dirt to conceal the fire and food. The pressure of the heat essentially bakes and steams your food over 12 hours, and it’s best when preparing enormous batches of food, like Mexican barbacoa! Use boneless beef

4 | 740-314-4829