GA Injury Advocates - March 2021

GA Injury Advocates - March 2021

Auto Injury T R I B U N E

March 2021

What It Takes to Be a Good Student of Life

Discipline, Debate, and a Lack of Defensiveness

One thing I like about writing these monthly newsletters is the feedback I get from you, my readers, and the conversations the articles spark. I’ve touched on different aspects of goal-setting in several recent covers, and a reader told me that though they are setting goals, they can’t seem to fulfill them. I’ve been thinking a lot about that since. In fact, it’s what inspired this month’s topic, which is how to be a good student of life. I believe that humans are built for self-betterment and experience a lot of joy from growth. That’s not to say all our life experiences are joyful. Many are painful or difficult — growing pains, if you will — but the overall effect is a positive one. Changing, learning, and growing lead to a sense of fulfillment. So why do we sometimes resist this? Why do we set goals, then not achieve them? Even though January was just two months ago, most studies show that upwards of 80% of New Year’s resolutions or goals have already been abandoned by now. Think about that. That’s an overwhelming majority. And it brings me to my first piece of advice: Practice consistent self-discipline. They say knowledge is power. But knowledge is nothing if it’s not applied. We need to learn, apply what we learn, study the results, then refine our approach. That’s what I mean by consistent self-discipline. Often, when we think of self-discipline, we think of our bodies. Being an athlete or just staying fit does require consistent self-discipline in working out and paying attention to your diet. But the principle holds true for our minds, as well. If you’re working on becoming a more positive thinker or a more grateful person, that’s going to take time. Commit yourself to spending time on the things that are important to you. This self-discipline is needed in another area, too, which brings me to another piece of advice: You need to debate the issues. I don’t mean the political issues of our day, though some healthy debate in that

arena wouldn’t hurt either! I mean debate your own personal issues. Find someone to help you think through your own challenges, someone who will push you by presenting other information and ideas for your consideration. And here’s the key: To be a good student, you have to be open to learning. Listen instead of just defending yourself. We often have to make decisions on complicated issues. If you’re thinking of accepting a new job, you need to weigh the pros and cons. Maybe you’re willing to accept a smaller paycheck for a shorter commute, for example. Or maybe what’s most important to you is having great colleagues you respect. Debating the issue with someone else and keeping an open mind is the best way to get clarity and make the best decision. The final thing I want to say is that being a good student is different than being a follower. Sure, in school, there are rules kids have to follow, but a truly good student doesn’t blindly accept ideas. Their drive to learn means they let their curiosity guide them. They ask questions and make decisions for themselves. That doesn’t mean we don’t need others, though. We can learn a tremendous amount by reading and paying attention to other people’s experiences. In fact, that’s what makes a healthy debate so useful! As we move into spring, if you’ve already given up on the goals you set earlier in the years, do me a favor: Reconsider them. Be a good student and study those goals. See if they still serve you and what caused you to miss the mark so far. Recruit a friend to help! Then refine, recommit yourself, and try again.

El Abogado Ramiro (El Abogado Amigo) y su equipo hablan español

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IMPROVE PATIENCE AND REDUCE STRESS

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS ... Scrub the Microwave

WITH THESE 4 TIPS

Lemons don’t just add a tart flavor to your favorite desserts or cool you down in a refreshing drink on a hot summer day. In addition to bold flavors, lemons also have powerful cleaning properties. Their acidity and oils cut through grease and can sanitize many of your household items. The best place to clean with a lemon is in the kitchen. For the microwave, simply juice a whole lemon into a bowl of water, then plop the used peels into the bowl. Microwave the mixture for a few minutes, let the bowl cool before removing it, then wipe away the grease in the microwave. You can also use this method for your oven. For odor-blocking properties, you can use a lemon as an air freshener. Leave half of a lemon in your refrigerator to trap and block potential smells and toss old lemon rinds down the garbage disposal. Run the disposal to clean the blades and freshen up the sink.

In this fast-paced world, it can be easy to grow impatient. Things as small as waiting for a slow website to load or waiting in a long line for coffee can sometimes leave

people feeling frustrated and anxious. Practicing patience helps reduce stress and helps you realize it’s okay if something takes a few extra minutes. If you find yourself feeling impatient, here are a few helpful tips. Breathe Deeply When you feel stressed, your breathing gets shallow, which amplifies anxiety. Practicing deep breathing can help reduce stress and frustration by relaxing your body and mind. This is as simple as taking a few quiet moments to inhale through the nose, drawing your breath into the belly and lungs. Count to four to help you focus as you inhale. Then exhale slowly through your mouth. After a few repetitions, you will find that your mind and body feel calmer. Switch Focus When agitated, it’s common for our thoughts to center on the irritant. Though it may feel difficult to do when you’re stressed out, switching your focus will help you calm down and be more patient. For instance, if you find yourself growing more and more frustrated by hitting red lights as you drive, try focusing on green instead. Looking for passing cars, signs, trees, or anything that is green will help break that hyper-focus and shift it from negative to positive. Soon, those red lights will be less bothersome. Meditate A great way to increase your patience is by meditating, a combination of the first two tips — focus and breathing. Meditation helps people constructively manage thoughts by allowing them to practice observing their thoughts from a neutral perspective. Regular meditation can reduce stress and improve patience throughout the day. Even just 5–10 minutes of daily practice can have a tremendous impact over time. Practice Acceptance While the above tips can help you improve your patience, sometimes you must simply accept that some things can’t be rushed. There will be times when we cannot control the outcome: A red light will change to green when it changes and no sooner. Learning to accept that can help people let go of their frustration, become more understanding of their situation, and greatly improve their patience.

As for your kitchen tools, don’t toss them out without trying this lemon trick first. Start by sprinkling salt on a wooden cutting board, then slice a lemon in half. Using half the lemon (flesh-side down) like a sponge, scrub the board really well. Wipe and remove the leftover lemon juice and rinse the board before using it again. Not only will the board appear cleaner, but it also won’t smell as bad, and the bacteria will be gone. You can also use this method to polish dining ware, spruce up copper, and even remove stuck-on food from plates. Now, here’s the real secret: Once you master kitchen cleaning a la lemon, you can use these same principles to clean other parts of your house. For example, salt and lemon can be used to scrub grimy sinks and faucets, while a few squeezes of lemon juice in a cup of water makes an excellent cleaning solution for mirrors and windows. You can even make your own reusable cleaning spray by fermenting lemon peels — and the peels of other citrus fruits — in white vinegar for two weeks. Remove the peels after two weeks and spritz the mixture over surfaces you need to clean!

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Injured While Riding a Llama? Georgia Law Is on the Llama’s Side The code also covers the more common equine activity, which applies to horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys — all of which have a stronger reputation, in North American culture, at least, for being ridden or used as pack animals. Yet, aside from llamas and equine, no other such groups of animals are designated in the code, so it remains a mystery precisely why llamas, in particular, are on the books. Your chances of encountering a llama in Georgia may be slim, but it’s not an impossibility. In 2017, an escaped llama in Oconee Country outside Athens received national attention. Misidentified by a witness as a “baby camel,” the llama was later found roaming the streets by police and returned to her owners. No llamas were ridden, and no one was hurt in the incident, which is no real surprise. While they are known to occasionally spit at passersby, llamas are generally affectionate and gentle creatures. The team at GA Injury Advocates wants the best for our clients, so our advice is to steer clear of any llama-riding adventures while this law is on the books! If you get hurt while “engaging in a llama activity,” remember that the law is in the llama’s favor! But if you find yourself the victim of more common accidents, like a vehicle collision, know that the skilled professionals at GA Injury Advocates are here to represent you.

While Georgia has its share of llama and alpaca (a close cousin) farms and rescues, there isn’t a booming llama-related industry, so it’s not entirely clear why Georgia has a llama liability law on its books. Nevertheless, Sections 4-12-2 and 4-12-3 of the state code provide that all “llama activity sponsors” and “llama professionals” are not liable for injuries participants incur while “engaging in a llama activity.” What exactly is a llama activity? Turns out, there are several. Engaging in a llama activity could mean you are riding a llama, training a llama, transporting something via the llama, or providing medical attention to the llama. You’re also an active participant if you’re assisting in any of the previous activities, according to the code.

SSUDOKUU

RECIPE:

GREEN GODDESS SMOOTHIE

If you’re looking to get your green on, why not try this light smoothie?

Ingredients

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1 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

• • •

1 1/2 cups fresh organic spinach

1 tbsp chia seeds

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1 organic apple, peeled and chopped

1/2 medium avocado

1 medium frozen banana

Directions 1. In a large, high-powered blender, add in all ingredients.

2. Blend on high for 1–2 minutes, or until all ingredients are well combined.

3. If necessary, add in more almond milk to thin the smoothie.

Solution on Page 4

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Serve immediately and enjoy!

(770) 233-7400 3 If you or a loved one has been injured, call our office today for a free consultation.

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Solution from Page 3

Inside

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What It Takes to Be a Good Student of Life The Best Cleaning Tool Can Be Found in Your Kitchen How to Be More Patient and Less Stressed Exploring Georgia’s Llama Liability Law Green Goddess Smoothie

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Touring Cobb County

You may know Kennesaw, Georgia, as the Atlanta suburb with great schools, interesting war history, and lush mountain scenery, but its claim to national fame is a law from 1982 that states: “Every head of household residing in the city limits is required to maintain a firearm.” That’s right, if you’re the head of household, you’re required by city law to own a gun. This is outlined in Section 34-21 of the city code, which goes on to say its purpose is to “provide for and protect the safety, security, and general welfare” of the city’s residents. The law does provide an exemption for certain people, including those with physical or mental disabilities that prohibit them from using a firearm, those who are financially unable to purchase and maintain a gun, and those with religious beliefs opposing such ownership. In accordance with federal law, anyone who’s been convicted of a felony is also prohibited from gun ownership. Lieutenant Craig Graydon, who’s served on the Kennesaw police force for over 30, explained to CNN that the law was passed as “more or

less a political statement because the city of Morton Grove, Illinois, passed a city ordinance banning handguns from their city limits.” He went on to say that the law is “meant to be a crime deterrent” and that it’s not actively enforced by the local police. While some may associate gun ownership — not to mention a law requiring it —with high crime rates, there was only one murder in Kennesaw between the years of 2015 and 2019. Kennesaw mayor Derek Easterling told CNN the local law has garnered a lot of national and even international interest and that some people make incorrect assumptions about the town based on the law. “The first thing that most people say when they meet us, you know, as a community, is ‘oh, it’s not what I expected,’” said Mayor Easterling. “I don’t know what they expect of people who arm themselves with guns at home, or what they’re looking for, but really we’re not that.”

YOU MIGHT BE BREAKING THE LAW

It goes to show that you never know what you’ll find when you’re touring Cobb County.

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