Johnson Law Group - August 2021

Johnson Law Group - August 2021

JohnsonLGroup.com

720.452.2540

AUG 2021

STEPPING OUTSIDE THE BOX WITH MY HOBBIES DESPITE MY FEAR OF GETTING INJURED AGAIN

Earlier this year, I decided that I wanted to join a tennis league. It was something different, something out of the box, that I wanted to make time for in my life. I had taken tennis lessons as a little kid, but besides that, I hadn’t ever played before. I was really enjoying it — until my first match sent me to the emergency room.

Before getting into how that happened, I want to tell you why I decided to play tennis so suddenly in the first place. In short, I wanted to spend more time on myself, improve my work- life balance, and find a hobby that had nothing to do with my work. I also wanted to meet women outside of my current social circles and participate in something that my family could watch me do. I feel like all my kids ever see me do is work and clean the house, and I wanted them to see that there was more to their mommy than that. “Despite all the healthy reasons why I joined my tennis league in the first place, I just can’t help but worry that I’ll get injured again if I return to playing it.”

There were about three games per month for the league that I was a part of, and during my first match, things started off well. However, about two hours into the match, when there was just one more set, that’s when it happened: My opponent served the ball to me, and as I swung to return it, the ball bounced off my racket and straight into my open eyeball. For a moment, I couldn’t hear anything except my own labored breathing. That’s when the pain started, and it was excruciating. I cupped my eye with both hands – petrified my eyeball would pop out if I removed them. Myles and the kids rushed me to the nearest urgent care facility, which is when I finally removed my hands so they could take a look. They told me to immediately go to the emergency room. I was there until 2 a.m. while doctors tried to figure out if I needed surgery, and if I would be vision impaired going forward. Fortunately, neither of those things happened. They told me it was a corneal abrasion — in other words a scratch. Hard to believe a scratch could be so painful. With medication, I was healed completely after a week.

I joined my tennis league in the first place, I just can’t help but worry I’ll get injured again if I play again. In spite of the freak accident, I’m glad I took the opportunity to put myself out there. I’m also glad that, even if it was my first and last tennis match, my kids still got to watch me do something fun. There will never be a perfect time to find new hobbies or opportunities for self-care. We can come up with a whole heap of excuses as to why now is not the right time to start. But, if we want to see positive changes, we just have to go for it. That is the necessary mindset whether I choose to get back into tennis or find another activity to enrich my life.

–Genet Johnson

Since that injury, I’ve been fearful of getting back into tennis. Despite all the healthy reasons why

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WHY SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LONELY

DoingWhat He Ca Serve the Local Co

And How to Stop It

WHY WALT TARRANT LOVES WORKING AT J

Given the choice between an elderly person living alone in the countryside and a young recent college graduate living in a major metro area, who do you think would have a greater chance of experiencing loneliness?

For Walt Tarrant, working for Johnson Law Group is all about helping the community around him— his neighbors. He’d always wanted to pursue a career in law, ever since he was young. Then, after studying government and history in high school and college, Walt found himself working as a paralegal for a law practice that had clients all over the country. Luckily, a friend of his worked at Johnson Law Group. That eventually drew Walt to an opportunity working as a paralegal for our firm, and we are very glad he is with us! Day to day, Walt assists Attorney Yasaman Saeedasr with her clients and case management needs. If there is a way Walt can make it easier for Yasaman to help her clients, Walt makes sure to get it done. “I try to put myself in the attorney’s shoes and think about what’s needed to best help our clients,” Walt said.

While many seniors do suffer from loneliness, you may be surprised to learn that people in their 20s and 30s experience loneliness today more than any other age group. In fact, the post-college years are when loneliness peaks despite opportunities to interact with others in the workplace or other social environments. A Front Row Seat to Everyone’s Highlight Reel When you view someone’s social media, chances are you’re seeing a “highlight reel” of their life. When you compare your behind- the-scenes footage to that highlight reel, it can leave you feeling unaccomplished and isolated, which further leads to loneliness. Given that millennials are very involved with social media, it’s no wonder their age group is lonelier. The Post-Dorm Friendship Drought Even before the advent of social media, people moved away from the conditions that created friendships when they left their college dorms. According to sociologists in a 1978 study, there are three conditions that lead to making friends: “proximity, repeated and unplanned interactions, and settings that encourage people to let their guard down.” Young people are much less likely to come across these conditions in their lives after college. How to Fix It Loneliness isn’t easy to tackle. It takes time and effort to alleviate, and it starts with actively looking for opportunities to form relationships with other people. It can be scary putting yourself out there, but you might be surprised by how accepting other people can be. Rejection is always a possibility, but so is the remedy to your loneliness. You’ll never know how many future friends you may have until you get out and look around for them!

For Walt, the most rewarding part of his job is getting to help people through some of the most difficult times of their lives. Many of

FIGHT S Start Taking Vitamin D

Do you get SAD? We’re talking about seasonal affective disorder, which affects 1%–10% of the population depending

on the state you live in. Symptoms of SAD are similar to symptoms of depression, but unlike chronic depression, which can occur at any time, people with SAD only experience symptoms during a certain time of year, usually winter. SAD has been strongly linked with shorter days and less sun — although summertime SAD can result from long days that make sleep difficult, resulting in irritability and mood swings. In most cases, however, winter is the problem season, likely due to a link between less sun and a vitamin D deficiency. Depression is one common symptom of vitamin D deficiency, especially in patients who aren’t prone to depression due to other circumstances. Unfortunately, very few foods are good sources of vitamin D. The best source is sunlight itself.

There are a few ways to combat wintertime SAD. Establishing a regular sleep schedule is important, as is an exercise routine and healthy diet. As mentioned, it’s

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THE GOOD NEWS!

an to ommunity

JOHNSON LAW GROUP

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” –Matthew 11:28

our clients are facing difficult divorces and custody actions, and he tries to empathize with them as best he can. It’s hard seeing people going through those painful experiences, but Walt finds solace in knowing that he and the rest of the team can do their part to make it a little more bearable. Walt deeply values the fact that he gets to work where he serves the people who live in his community, and the enthusiasm he brings to the office is also evident in his different activities and positions outside of work. “I volunteer a ridiculous amount,” Walt said. Among his various volunteer roles, he serves as a mentor for high school boys to become leaders, and he was also appointed by the mayor to sit on the Denver African American Commission. When he’s not in any of those roles, however, he also loves spending time with his nieces and nephews.

Tomato andWatermelon Salad (Yes, Really!)

SAD EARLY! D Now, Before the Sun Goes Away

Ingredients

• • • • •

1 tsp peppercorns, coarsely crushed

1 tsp coriander seeds, coarsely crushed

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp turmeric

hard to find vitamin D in foods, but milk and other food products are often intentionally enriched with it during processing.

1/4 cup coconut oil

• 4 cups seedless watermelon, rind removed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 2 heirloom tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 8 oz feta cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • Sea salt, to taste

The most common solution, however, is taking a vitamin D supplement, which can be purchased over the counter at drugstores and grocery stores. It is commonly recommended for people living in places with harsher winters, and although there are negative side effects if taken in excess, a regular daily dose of vitamin D is a healthy way to ensure you have the right levels in your system. This month is the perfect time to begin that process. Vitamin D can take several months to build up to effective levels in our bodies. It may be the hottest time of the year in many places, but it’s also the ideal time to start fighting SAD early!

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, sauté spices and herbs in the coconut oil for 3 minutes over medium heat to create turmeric oil. Take the pan off of the heat, then let it cool. 2. Combine the watermelon, tomatoes, and feta on a large platter or in a bowl. Drizzle with cooled turmeric oil. Now, simply sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy!

Inspired by BonAppetit.com

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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INSIDE

Stepping Outside the Box With My Hobbies

Why Are So Many Young People Lonely?

Spotlight onWalt Tarrant

Fight SAD Early!

The Good News!

Tomato andWatermelon Salad (Yes, Really!)

Upcoming Events in the Denver Area

UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE DENVER AREA? Events in August You Should Know About

Tuesday with Project Angel Heart’s executive chef, Bret Newman, as he guides you through the creation of some mouth-watering fish tacos. The event will raise money for Coloradans who are facing life-threatening illnesses. If you pay $100, you’ll get the meal kit to follow along with Chef Newman, or you can pay $50 just for the virtual link and just get the ingredients yourself. Colorado Springs Comic Con When: Aug 27–29, 2–9 p.m. Where: Chapel Hills Mall: 1710 Briargate Blvd., Colorado Springs, Colorado 80920 Admission: Varies If you’re a pop culture junkie, and you want a whole weekend with other lovers of comic books, movies, and TV shows, then the Colorado Springs Comic Con is the place for you. Come meet different guests, including voice actors,

professional wrestlers, actors, and writers or dress up as your favorite characters and enter the cosplay contest. Whatever your idea of fun is, you’ll find it at Comic Con. Affordable Arts Festival When: Aug 29, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Where: Arapahoe Community College: 5900 S. Santa Fe, Littleton, Colorado 80160 Admission: $12 Have you ever visited an art show and balked at the pieces that are going for hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars? Well, you won’t find that here. Everything for sale at this festival goes for under $100, and the proceeds finance scholarships for Arapahoe Community College. This is your chance to decorate your house and yard with exquisite pieces without breaking the bank!

The vacations might be over, but summer is still here —what will you do with the warm, sunny days that you have left? Well, if you’re open to suggestions, there are some great events coming up later this month that you won’t want to miss. Whether you want time inside, outside, cooking, shopping, or just spending time with like-minded people, check out these events in the Denver area.

Cooking Together: Taco Tuesday When: Aug 17, 6–7 p.m.

Where: Virtual event Admission: $50–$100

If you don’t feel like going out, and you want to donate to a good cause, you can tune in for Taco

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720.452.2540