Johnson Law Group March 2021

Johnson Law Group March 2021

JohnsonLGroup.com

720.452.2540

MAR 2021

MY HERO: GRANDPA SHERMAN

My Grandpa Maynard Sherman was diagnosed with leukemia while I was preparing for the bar exam. I was on a very strict schedule, studying all day every day, but I knew I had to see him. So, I dropped everything and flew to Chicago. I remember sitting in the hospice room with him, studying for torts while he slept, but keeping him company while he was awake. I could only stay for a few days, and I cherished every moment. Two days after I left, he passed away. Amidst the grief, I kept thinking about what he would have wanted me to do: keep studying. Remarkably, I did not lose motivation to finish what I had started. I did my best in the examination and, a few months later, found out I had passed. The moment I saw my name on the pass list, I fell to my knees in gratitude and began weeping. My dream of becoming an attorney had come true. Now that I had completed this phase of my life, I could start dealing with losing my grandpa and cherishing his legacy. Grandpa Sherman was always a hero to me. When I was a kid, he was a hero because he worked for the police, or at least that’s what I’d always assumed at that age. I knew he worked as a security guard at Sears, but I took that to mean he was a police officer, so I would go around talking about my policeman Grandpa Sherman to anyone who would listen. Throughout his life, Grandpa stressed the importance of doing the right thing, which he defined as working hard, being bold, and putting others before yourself. He was not afraid to lovingly

tell people they were off course, saying things like, “Why are you doing that?” and “That is not what you are supposed to do.” Growing up with him, I learned that no matter the situation, you must search for the right thing to do and do it.

quickly fell in love and stayed together for the rest of his life.

Grandpa Sherman focused his entire being on protecting and caring for my grandma. His dedication to her, her children, and her grandchildren (including me and my sister, Taneisha) certainly stemmed from his difficult upbringing. When he was

Grandpa told many stories when I was with him. I remember a story he used to recall from

when I was a kid. Apparently, I had come home crying from school

a child, his father committed suicide, leaving his mother

one day. When he asked me what was wrong, I told him my teacher said that once someone is over 50, they’re old enough to die. This had upset me because I knew both Grandpa and Grandma were well over 50. I do not

to singlehandedly raise 10 children, including him. So, he was forced to learn discipline and

righteousness from a young age, qualities he introduced to many others in his life.

remember what his reaction was at the time, but I knew he must have consoled me. However, whenever he told me this story later in life, he would start laughing because of how sincere I sounded back then. As I got older, Grandpa became even more of a hero to me, especially when I learned about what my Grandma Clara went through with my biological grandfather before she met Grandpa Sherman. Grandma met Grandpa Sherman while they were both working at Sears. At that point, Grandma had three young children and had recently escaped a very violent relationship. Understandably, given her experiences, she was not expecting to meet someone new. But, she quickly learned that Grandpa was a different kind of man than she had ever known. They both

Without Grandpa, my life would not have been as good as it has been.

Watching his relationship with my Grandma has brought me immeasurable joy and taught me crucial life lessons about love and sacrifice. His actions and character have provided a strong example of the kind of spouse and parent I want to be, which I hope to pass down to our children. The more I have learned about Grandpa Sherman — during and after his life — the more I realize that my childhood impressions of him as a hero were absolutely true. While he was not perfect, he was the best role model I could have asked for in my life. I hope he is proud of me.

–Myles Johnson

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720.452.2540

SPOTLIGHT ON JASON SHANKLE: PARTN A Lifelong

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS ...

When our clients come to us, they are frequently experiencing emotional strain. As a team, we understand this and recommend resources for our clients to face and overcome their personal struggles. To that end, we are proud to have partnered with Jason Shankle for the past several years. Shankle is the CEO and founder of Inner Self and Wisdom LLC, which is a private therapy practice providing counseling services and educational resources for a variety of situations. Shankle is a cognitive behavioral and EMDR-trained therapist, a certified addiction psychotherapist, and a certified motivational interviewing therapist. He is also a certified family mediator and is working toward becoming a child and family investigator (CFI). Therapy, Shankle says, is something that chose him. Throughout his life, he has always been a healer, aiming to help himself, his family, and others who are suffering. It took him time to find his calling, describing his path as, “an interesting walk.” During this journey, it was his intuition that fueled him to help people through the most difficult moments in their lives until they could learn to see life positively again.

Scrub the Microwave 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 fewminutes, 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. 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!

“Not to make life transformation sound simple,” Shankle cautions, “but you’ve got to go through pain. There’s a lot that comes

with it, and you have to be willing to do the work and understand it’s not going to be easy.” The ultimate reward, however, is incalculable.

IMPROVE PATIENC With T

In this fast-

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

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

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720.452.2540

NER OF JOHNSON LAW GROUP g Healer

THE GOOD NEWS!

As our partner, Shankle provides therapy and counseling sessions to our clients and facilitates family mediations. “Family mediations can be difficult,” Shankle says. “There are a lot of trauma

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

triggers and feelings of grief and loss of love, especially when children are involved. I empathize with those feelings and commit to helping in any way I can. By partnering with Johnson Law Group, I have the chance to help people heal, grow, and improve their well-being.” Not only is Shankle’s professional life filled with healing and guidance, so too is his free time. When taking time for himself, Shankle often sits quietly, writing or working on his breathing meditation. He has self-published two poetry books: “Therapeutic: Soul Searching Poetry” and “Philosophical Poetry: Crowns and Shattered Dreams” under his pen name, Black Ausar.

“I love being an author because I can create,” Shankle explains. “It feels good to put pen on paper to write and own my trauma.”

Come golf while raising money for a great cause! Connect with people from a variety of industries and compete to win prizes! This is an event you don't want to miss! Sign up with the link below NOW to reserve your spot: Save the Date! First Annual Johnson Law Group Charity Golf Tournament! May 28, 2021 Buffalo Run Golf Course Commerce City

At Johnson Law Group, we are proud to work with Shankle. To learn more about Inner Self and Wisdom LLC, visit InnerSelfAndWisdom.com. If you wish to set up an appointment with Shankle, whether for therapy or family mediation, feel free to call our office at 720.452.2540 to learn how.

CE AND REDUCE STRESS These 4 Tips

Eventbrite.com/e/jlg-charity-golf-tournament-tickets-140025135951

that hyper-focus and shift it from negative to positive. Soon, those red lights will be less bothersome.

Registration starts: 12:30 P.M. Shotgun starts: 1:30 P.M. Food, drinks, prizes, & silent auction!

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.

All proceeds will go to benefit Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking . LCHT is a local Denver nonprofit organization whose mission is to "inform social change that eliminates human exploitation." Email [email protected] with any additional event questions.

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720.452.2540

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JohnsonLGroup.com 720.452.2540

INSIDE

My Hero: Grandpa Sherman

The Best CleaningTool CanBe Found in Your Kitchen

Spotlight on Therapist Jason Shankle

How to Be More Patient and Less Stressed

The Good News!

Save the Date!

Enjoy Your MarchWith These Holidays!

A FUN-FILLED MONTHWITH INTERESTING CELEBRATIONS

Take a Look at These Fun Holidays Celebrated Throughout March!

Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Known for his rhymes and storytelling as a children’s author, Dr. Seuss would celebrate his 117th birthday on March 2. If you are a Dr. Seuss fan, this is a perfect opportunity to revisit a few of your favorite stories by reading them to your children. Likewise, you can enjoy his works through other means, such as the many movies that have been made, including “Horton Hears a Who!” or “The Lorax.” St. Patrick’s Day In addition to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with the usual corned beef, cabbage, and drinks, you can also add a unique twist to it. Have your kids follow green leprechaun footprints to hidden treasure or listen to Irish poetry from writers such as Samuel Beckett or Seamus Heaney. Consider also donating to Concern Worldwide at Concern.net. It is one of the largest international charities, based in Ireland, providing health care, food, and shelter to people in need.

National Kick Butts Day If you’ve been considering quitting smoking, but are unsure of when or how to begin, National Kick Butts Day on March 20 can be your starting point. First organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in 1996 and later made official by the World Health Organization in 2003, this holiday encourages people to kick cigarette butts to the curb. If you’re a nonsmoker, you can participate in this holiday by helping raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco. Visit TakeDownTobacco.org to learn more. World Backup Day March 31 reminds us of the importance of backing up >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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