Bruce Law Firm - December 2019

REFLECTING ON A YEAR OF LIVING OUR DREAMS Big Moves December 2019

This year has been a pretty big year for us. We’ve changed jobs, moved into a new home, and welcomed awesome new team members and clients to the firm, all in the pursuit of living our dreams. For the Bruce Family, we’ve made some big moves. We finally purchased our “forever home” where we can grow with our family. We say “finally” because we lived in a townhouse for six years that fit us perfectly — until we had our two little ones. It got really small really fast. We wanted somewhere close to West Palm Beach but far enough away from the city to have some land.

Serendipitously, we found both. We chose a quaint house on 1 acre in Loxahatchee Groves. With dirt roads and horse barns, it has a rural feel but is close to all of the action, as it borders Royal Palm Beach and Wellington. We are nearly all settled in and have even added a few more outside rescue animals to our family. For us, this is a dream come true.

Russell and Ruby on the move!

Another big move this year was Ashley leaving her firm’s bankruptcy team and joining Bruce Law Firm as a divorce and family law attorney. This was a difficult decision for Ashley, as she loved her former firm and firm family very much. As this year comes to a close, though, it’s clear that this move has been the best not only for the Bruce Family but also for our clients. If you ask Ashley how she likes practicing family law, she’ll tell you she loves it because she feels like she’s helping people. For Ashley, it’s personal, and she develops a connection with each client that she meets. Clients come to us when they are going through really hard times; often, they’re feeling sad and maybe a little lost. We get the rewarding job of building them up and giving them the tools to move forward. At Bruce Law Firm, we give people the keys to live their best life. We thank all of you for the support you’ve given us through these moves. Thank you for allowing us to make changes that strengthen what we do. This year has most definitely been about growth — our firm has grown, our personal space has grown, and even our animal family has grown. We’re making our own dreams come true because no one else can do that for us. Often, the decisions that allow us to move forward and get the life we want are tough. You leave comfort for the unknown. That’s how it was for Ashley leaving her firm, and even leaving our old house was tough despite how excited we were for the change. That’s how it also has been for the new team members at our firm. There are always a lot of unknowns. But you also don’t know how good it can be until you make the move.

Here’s to making big moves in 2019,

– Ashley and Chris Bruce

Ashley and Chris on the move in Las Vegas!

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Know the Basics Settling Your Divorce Through Mediation After a divorce has been filed and spouses have exchanged financial information (also called the discovery process), a divorce case may go to mediation. Mediation can be an effective way to settle a case if it can’t be done between the two lawyers quickly. It’s meant to give both parties a neutral, third-party perspective on their settlement and often provides helpful insight. THE MEDIATION PROCESS Most divorces are resolved through a process called mediation. During mediation, each spouse is in a separate room with their lawyer. A mediator — typically a divorce lawyer or someone very experienced with divorce law — goes between the two rooms to facilitate a settlement. During mediation at our firm, for example, our client is in our law office with us, and we have a conference room at the end of the hall where their spouse and the spouse’s lawyer are. The mediator goes between both rooms and helps us narrow down and agree on a settlement. What we tell clients is that for us to settle their divorce, we need to understand their income and assets — what they and their spouse are making at that time — so that we can come up with a settlement. Especially in some of the complex cases we handle, like those involving business assets, it’s helpful for us to get input from a mediator. It helps everyone involved see things a little differently, and ultimately, it often makes it easier for us all to come to an agreement. In mediations where we do find an agreement, we typically prepare a contract that has all the parts of the settlement in it, and everyone signs it right then and there.

MORE THAN JUST ‘YOU’LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT!’ LESSONS FAMILIES CAN LEARN FROM ‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’ In 1983, one movie introduced Red Ryder BB guns, fishnet-clad leg lamps, and bright red bars of soap into America’s everlasting Christmas mythos. Now, over 35 years later, “A Christmas Story” continues to delight audiences every holiday season with timeless lessons for viewers of all ages. In a story where kids are clever and kind, and parents are bumbling and wise, “A Christmas Story” has more lessons to offer families than just, “You’ll shoot your eye out!” YOUR KIDS ARE LISTENING TO YOU (OH, FUDGE!). They aren’t always obedient, but that doesn’t mean they’re not listening. After Ralphie lets slip the “queen mother of dirty words” in front of his father, the narrator reminisces about first hearing that word from his old man — possibly when he was trying to get their furnace to work. He doesn’t admit this to his mother, but it’s a lesson for parents everywhere that kids may hear more than they let on. KIDS WON’T BELIEVE IN MAGIC FOREVER. Magical stories about Santa or even “Little Orphan Annie’s” Secret Society fill children’s hearts with wonder but won’t enchant them forever. Belief in certain parts of the Christmas season can fade slowly or die as quickly as the spin of a decoder pin, but parents can always be there to remind children about what’s really important during the Christmas season. SOMETIMES ‘DISASTERS’ LEAD TO NEW ADVENTURES. Christmas Day can be hectic, and, in the hubbub of it all, sometimes disaster can feel inevitable. Ralphie’s parents certainly experience their fair share of disaster in hilarious fashion when the Bumpus Hounds destroy their holiday turkey and leave nothing but the heavenly aroma. But, when Ralphie’s father takes them out to eat at a local Chinese restaurant, it creates a whole new Christmas tradition for the Parker family. Our holiday mishaps, no matter how tragic, are rarely the end of the world.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM MEDIATION:

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Nothing is required — all you have to do is show up.

• The mediator is a neutral third party who facilitates the process.

• Everything in mediation is confidential (unless it commits a crime or threatens harm).

• The goal is for both parties to come to an agreement, but again, it’s not required.

All you have to do for mediation is show up and leave the rest to your attorney.

Is your friend or client in need of a guide as they prepare for divorce? our divorce strategy book can help! The book can be downloaded for FREE at ControlYourDifficultDivorce.com. If your friend or client lives in the South Florida area, we will mail them a hard copy of the book upon request.

Consider one final tip: Do not stick your tongue to any flagpoles this winter! Happy holidays!

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Now Is the Time To Make Your Dreams Come True As Ashley and Chris reminded us on the cover, there’s only one person who can make your dreams come true: you. People can help and support you, but ultimately, taking that next step is up to you. You don’t know how good it can be until you make the move! Here are a few tools that can guide you in this process. Vision Boards A vision board serves as a daily visual reminder of your innermost dreams and goals. Your vision board will contain images and words that connect you to your objectives. To create one, give yourself a couple hours of quiet, uninterrupted time. Visualize three core desires and dreams. Find a sturdy piece of paper, some publications that you don’t mind cutting up, and when you’re done visualizing, cut out and paste words and images that resonate with your dreams. Put your vision board where you’ll see it daily and repeat the visualization process every time you look at it. Inspiring Books The written word can be a powerful catalyst for motivating us toward our goals. It doesn’t just have to be your typical self-help genre, either. “The Alchemist,” by Paulo Coelho follows the journey of the protagonist as they visualize and manifest their deepest wishes. It’s an entertaining and easy-to-follow story, but it also holds many life lessons. TAKE A STEP TOWARD YOUR DREAMS

Mantras or Positive Affirmations Empower yourself with simple words or phrases that you repeat daily to reaffirm a belief or idea. Here are a few examples: “I deserve love and kindness; I am love. I am purpose. I was made with divine intention; Hold up your head! You were not made for failure — you were made for victory.” Stand in front of the mirror and repeat your mantra or affirmation to your reflection 5–10 times. This works best when done at the same time each day, such as first thing when you wake up or before you leave to work.

As 2019 comes to a close, let this be a time of directing yourself toward the life you want to live. Everything you want is at your fingertips.

have a LAUGH

Potato Latkes

ingredients

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2 tsp kosher salt

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2 large russet potatoes, scrubbed

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1 tsp baking powder

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1 large onion, peeled and cut into quarters

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1/2 tsp black pepper

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2 large eggs

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Safflower or vegetable oil, for frying

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1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Using either a food processor with a coarse grating disc or the coarse side of a box grater, grate potatoes and onion. (If using a food processor, halve or quarter potatoes.) Once grated, wrap in a clean dish towel or cheesecloth to wring out as much moisture as possible. 2. Transfer to a mixing bowl and mix in eggs, flour, salt, baking powder, and pepper. 3. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan containing 1/4-inch of oil over medium-high heat. Use a heaping tablespoon to drop batter into the hot pan, working in batches. Use a spatula or spoon to form them into discs. Fry about 5 minutes per side, until deeply browned. 4. Transfer to a paper towel-lined wire rack to drain, and serve alongside applesauce and sour cream.

Inspired by The New York Times

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Our Year of Big Moves page 1

Lessons Families Can Learn From ‘A Christmas Story’

Divorce Basics and Strategy: Mediation page 2

Reach Your Dreams page 3

Boost Your Mental Health This Season page 4

Feeling SAD?

Ways to Fight Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that people experience every fall and winter. If you find yourself feeling blue as the days become shorter and darker, know there are things you can do to boost your mood until spring returns. INCREASE YOUR ACTIVITY Keeping your body active can increase your energy levels, help you sleep, reduce anxiety, and boost your self-esteem. Summit Medical Group states that a person who exercises for 30–60 minutes a day can manage or avoid SAD easier than a person who does not exercise regularly. When you participate in physical activity, your body releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which have a morphine-like effect on your brain. If exercising outdoors is not ideal, consider swimming, walking, or dancing instead. GET SOME SUN Exposure to sunlight is also significantly beneficial for people suffering from SAD. Sunlight helps your body produce adequate amounts of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness. Getting just a few minutes of sunlight a day through a walk or short jog can make all the difference. If you live in an area where the winters are bleak, cloudy, and dark, sunlight can be harder to come by. But technology has you covered: You can

purchase “sun lamps,” which simulate sunlight without the damaging UV rays. Just set up a sun lamp in your workspace or living area and feel your mood lift.

MAINTAIN YOUR ROUTINE Often, it can be difficult to stick with your daily routine during the cooler months. It may be harder to wake up on time in the morning to work out, or it may be too cold outside to go on your daily run. Luckily, you can find small ways to mitigate this. For example, invest in a sunrise alarm clock, which gently wakes you up with a simulated sunrise, or shop for high-quality thermal workout gear. If you continue to suffer from SAD and feel there’s no end in sight, it’s important to seek help from professionals. They can determine the best treatment options available for you.

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