Malloy Law - July 2022

Malloy Law - July 2022

Malloy Monthly

MALLOY LAW OFFICES, LLC

Alexandria 5680 King Centre Dr. #600 Alexandria, VA 22315 (703) 337-3328 Bethesda 7910 Woodmont Ave. #1250 Bethesda, MD 20814 (202) 999-3898

Clinton 9135 Piscataway Rd. #215 Clinton, MD 20735 (301) 889-9950 Baltimore 400 E. Pratt St., 8th Flr. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 498-6085

July 2022

Celebrating Fourth of July With a Bang Wishing America a Happy Birthday in the Capital

This month, we are breaking out the red, white, and blue and celebrating our nation’s independence. The Fourth of July has been recognized as a federal holiday since 1941, which is only 81 years ago, but Independence Day celebrations date all the way back to the 18th century. On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted favorably to declare independence, and then two days later, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the 13 colonies.

Another popular area to catch an amazing Fourth of July fireworks display is from across the Potomac River. The U.S. Marine Corps Memorial and the Netherlands Carillon both are great places to gather to watch the show. If crowds aren’t your cup of tea, many rooftop bars in the area make an ideal location to watch the display with fewer people surrounding you. VUE Rooftop Lounge and The Conrad Hotel’s Summit Rooftop are just two of many choices you have! Also, an alternative way to watch the patriotic fireworks show is on a family- friendly fireworks cruise — check out some of the local tours on the Potomac River for the holiday! See the National Independence Day Parade. Every year, our nation’s Independence Day Parade takes place on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th street on July 4 at 11:45 a.m. EDT. Floats, giant balloons, bands, decorations, drum corps, and more will all be coming together for an exciting patriotic extravaganza to celebrate America’s birthday! Spend the day out in nature. If venturing out into nature is more your pace, you can embrace the holiday exploring some of the DMV area’s greatest hiking and biking trails. Harpers Ferry in West Virginia features over 20 miles of trails, ranging in difficulty levels. In Maryland, you can venture out on Sugarloaf Mountain and either hike the trails around the base or scale roughly 1,300 feet to the summit! Just 12 miles outside of D.C., Greenbelt Park in Maryland has many hiking, camping, and exploring options. No matter how you choose to celebrate, we hope you spend the day enjoying your friends, family, and fun activities! Be safe! Happy Fourth of July!

“No matter how you choose to celebrate, we hope you spend the day enjoying your friends, family, and fun activities!”

Celebrations traditionally include cookouts, parades, and parties, but in the nation’s capital, what better place to get patriotic and embrace our independence together as a nation? The local DMV area offers many great ways to celebrate, get festive, and kick back and relax while embracing all our country has to offer. Here are some great ideas worth noting. Watch the fireworks along the Washington, D.C., skyline. Is there anywhere more patriotic than D.C. to take in the wonders of the Fourth of July fireworks? The city offers many scenic viewing options. The National Mall, home to many of the city’s iconic monuments, is the most popular viewpoint — and rightfully so! Many secure viewing sights from the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, or the Jefferson Memorial and watch the display, which launches from both sides of the Lincoln Memorial. It’s a sight to behold!

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When you need a break from your busy life, you probably look at your cellphone. And when you need a break from your cellphone, you might watch TV or browse social media on your other devices. This cycle of never-ending screens can be taxing on your mental health. Everyone hits their breaking point at a different time, and you may not even realize when you’ve reached your limit. If you find yourself getting angry or upset at posted content, consistently comparing yourself to others, or feeling depressed, it may be time for a digital detox. But what is a digital detox? It’s taking a break from electronic devices, such as your cellphone or tablet, and mindlessly scrolling through social media or news stories. IS IT TIME FOR A DIGITAL DETOX?

3 Scenic Backroad

This summer, many more motorcyclists are sure to hit the open road throughout the Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia area to explore the beautiful scenery and embrace the sunshine. If you enjoy hopping on your bike and hitting the open road, here are a few scenic routes in the DMV to keep you off busy highways for a safer, more enjoyable ride! From Woodbridge, Virginia, to Seneca Rocks, West Virginia, and Back This 323-mile trip can be done in two days and will take you through mountainous back roads along rivers, streams, and endless miles of farmland. This route will have you traversing through different elevations along the ridges of the Allegheny Mountains. As you ride along the Potomac River, there are many amazing lookout areas to stop, stretch, snap a photo or two, and enjoy the views. Throughout the trip, you’ll find many small, quaint towns with local mom-and-pop restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat. If you’re looking for a place to rest for the night, Seneca Rocks has some motel options.

Now that you know what it is, how can you detox yourself?

• Schedule a break from your devices. Even if it’s just for a half-hour, use the time to do other activities, such as exercise, household chores, or even gardening. • Turn off notifications. Constant notifications can be incredibly distracting, so silencing them allows us to focus more on our surroundings.

• Disconnect before bedtime. Turn off all electronics an hour before you go to sleep to relax your body and mind.

Another benefit is that you’ll feel less stressed, especially if you compare yourself to others on social media or get lost in negative news cycles.

Perhaps the most notable benefit of a digital detox is reclaiming your own time. Checking your cellphone and scrolling through social media can quickly become a subconscious habit. Before you know it, an hour or two has passed. Even watching television can take up huge chunks of your day. With a digital detox, you get that time back, and you can reallocate it to healthier activities.

If you feel like you need a break from your electronic devices, take one. It could lead to a healthier and happier life.

Take a Break

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ds for Motorcyclists

With our phones always on standby, we’re more easily distracted than ever. Then there are also interruptions by coworkers or family members, emails or instant messages that divert our attention, household chores that will “only take a minute,” coffee breaks, and daydreams. Constant distraction hurts us more than we realize, creating a feedback loop of inattention. It’s time we understand what all this multitasking is doing to our minds and figure out how to break the cycle. No matter how good you think you are at it, multitasking doesn’t exist. What we’re really doing is called task-switching. Our brains can concentrate on only one thing at a time, and the quicker we go back and forth between tasks, the less we pay attention, and the more likely we are to make mistakes. Even worse, research says it takes us a whopping 23 minutes to regain our concentration after being interrupted. But what can you do? If you’ve ever been on a diet, you know that willpower has its limits. Simply promising you won’t check your email or phone rarely results in long-term success. But if technology is a big part of the problem, it can also be part of the solution. Try putting your email or phone notifications on silent. Or, consider a website blocker to keep you off distracting websites and an app that will lock distracting features on your phone. Low-tech solutions like a “do not disturb” sign and putting your phone in another room can also help. And mental tricks can still have their place. You probably tend to become productive when you’ve got a deadline crunch, and there’s a reason for that. Tasks have a way of stretching out unnecessarily when we don’t have to follow any restrictions. So, make some! Determine how much time you need to complete a task, and then don’t allow yourself anymore. Ask a colleague for help staying accountable. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done. Though we each have to fight our own battles, this isn’t entirely our fault. Popular apps make billions of dollars by sucking our attention away from everything else, so we’re automatically at a disadvantage. And there may be even more than meets the eye. If you have difficulty concentrating, stress could be the underlying culprit. Get that under control, and distractions might suddenly lose some of their allure. OVERCOMING INATTENTION STRATEGIES TO FIGHT DISTRACTION

The Charles County Loop Along the Potomac River If a shorter trip is more of what you had in mind, the Charles County Loop in Maryland is a 56-mile rural ride. The views along the Potomac are fabulous, and you’ll find many areas to stop to rest and take in nature’s beauty. The roads have recently been paved, and because there are many twists and turns, this route isn’t recommended for beginners. Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia provide great routes to travel on top of mountains and through deep

valleys with plenty to see along this 100- mile trek. The route has four entry and exit points, allowing you to customize your trip, and you’ll find many areas to stop to rest, enjoy the scenery, and grab a bite to eat.

For motorcycle safety tips, laws, and information, scan the QR code!

Easy Vegan Baked Beans

Inspired by NoraCooks.com

July is National Baked Beans Month, and you don’t need bacon to celebrate this iconic side dish! This plant-based version will be a crowd-pleaser at your next vegan barbecue.

Ingredients • 2 tbsp olive oil

• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 1 1/2 tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce • 2 tsp Sriracha • 4 15-oz cans navy beans, drained and rinsed • 1/2 tbsp liquid smoke (optional)

• 1 yellow onion, chopped • 4 cloves garlic, minced • 3/4 cup molasses • 1/2 cup brown sugar • 3/4 cup ketchup • 3/4 tsp salt

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. 2. In a large pot over medium heat, warm olive oil. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. 3. Add all of the remaining ingredients except the beans into the pot. Mix the sauce well, then stir in the beans. 4. Ladle the beans into a 9x13-inch pan and bake for 1 hour. Serve warm and enjoy!

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7910 Woodmont Ave. #1250 Bethesda, MD 20814 (202) 933-7277 • www.malloy-law.com

Inside This Issue

1

Fourth of July Celebrations

2

The Benefits of a Digital Detox

2

3 Scenic Backroads for Motorcyclists

3

How Distractions Are Hurting Us

3

Easy Vegan Baked Beans

4

World Listening Day

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

It’s often said that we as humans don’t listen to understand, but instead, we listen to reply. Listening is an important part of our society — we listen to music, sounds of nature, and the voices of others. On a deeper level, we listen to learn about the world and humans around us. On July 18, we celebrate World Listening Day — originally deemed the celebration of Canadian composer Raymond Murray Schafer’s birthday. Schafer studied the relationship between humans and their environment and how it relates to sound. He’s known as the founder of acoustic ecology, or soundscape studies. Both personally and professionally, listening to others is the cornerstone of building important relationships with others. But are we just hearing or are we actually listening? One can hear everything another has to say and listen with the purpose of coming up with a response to carry out a conversation. Or, one can listen to understand the feelings, purpose, and intent of another. Great listening skills are not learned overnight. Rather, they are adopted over years of practice. For attorneys, we must be good, active listeners. Most of our clients come to us in some of the most difficult situations of their lives, and you never know what a person is going through — and that’s where excellent listening skills come into play. We must lend an open ear to those who are struggling, confused, and anxious as they file claims and undergo the case process. As humans, we want to be heard and understood and find comfort from someone who is actually listening. It is our job as attorneys to not only listen to respond, but also to listen to help, make a difference, and be the change we’d like to see in the world.

Did You Hear That?

LISTENING TO HEAR VS. LISTENING TO UNDERSTAND

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