Kramer Law Group - February 2019

Kramer Law Group - February 2019

KRAMER LAWGROUP UTAH PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS

THE KRAMER CHRONICLES

02.19

WWW.KRAMERLAWGROUP.ORG | 801.601.1229

A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO VALENTINE’S DAY NOT JUST A TASK TO CHECK OFF YOUR LIST:

O n Feb. 14 several years ago, I was standing in line at a grocery store with a bouquet of red roses in my hands. The line to pay was long, so I took part in one of the most practiced human pastimes: people watching. As I scanned the store around me, I felt like I was looking in the mirror. I was surrounded by dozens of men, all armed with fragrant flowers and exasperated expressions. From that moment on, I’ve opted for a different approach to Valentine’s Day. I asked myself, “What is this holiday really about?” The answer is simple: Showing those around you how much you appreciate them. When it comes to showing gratitude to the people I care about, running to the store for roses at the last minute simply won’t get the job done. I decided to take the time to plan for Valentine’s Day and celebrate for the entire week instead of just one day.

In my preparations for the holiday this year, I kept finding myself thinking about the way the expectations associated with Valentine’s Day change as we grow older. In elementary school, for example, I remember my teacher having us set aside time to make a valentine’s box, and then the entire class would bring in valentines for their peers. It wasn’t just a day for husbands to buy flowers for their wives. It was a day to commemorate friendships — I remember receiving a ton of superhero-themed valentines from my best guy friends. Even if you did have a crush on someone in your class, you could spare yourself the embarrassment of having to actually tell him or her how you felt. You could just buy those Sweethearts candies and give them to your crush to express your adoration. At the end of the day, celebrating Valentine’s Day isn’t about commercialized expectations and Hallmark greeting cards; it’s about sharing your appreciation for

This year, for example, the holiday falls on a Thursday. So I might bring home a nice dinner on Monday, pick up roses on Tuesday, and give my wife chocolate strawberries — her favorite — on Wednesday. Instead of waiting for a big culmination on Feb. 14, I do a gradual ramp up, and I’ve found that this approach is less stressful and gives me more time to adequately acknowledge and appreciate my wife. I’m no longer swinging by the store to buy expensive and kitschy gifts on the way home from work one day out of the year, and I no longer feel like I’m cheapening the experience by just checking a task off a list. I’m not celebrating the day just because I have to. I’m celebrating it because I want to.

those around you. Try to avoid treating it like a simple task you can check off the list. Instead, take time to ponder the ways you can authentically show your gratitude. It can be something as

simple as bringing in coffee to your coworkers or taking your kids out for a fun experience. You could even take a page out of my book and celebrate Valentine’s Day for an entire week.

From all of us here at Kramer Law Group, Happy Valentine’s Day!

–Ron Kramer

| 1 801.601.1229

Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com

While Valentine’s Day tends to get most of the hype in February, there are several other holidays this month that hold immense historical significance. One of those days falls on Feb. 4, the birthday of civil rights activist Rosa Parks. Labeled by U.S. Congress as “the first lady of civil rights,” Parks is most widely known for her refusal to surrender her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. “THE FIRST LADY OF CIVIL RIGHTS” A COMMEMORATION OF On Dec. 1, 1955, Parks boarded the Cleveland Avenue bus for her journey home from work. She took a seat in the first several rows designated for “colored” passengers. Soon, the bus began to fill with white passengers, and the driver noticed that many of them were standing in the aisle. He then ordered those in the “colored” row to give up their seats. While the three other riders complied, Parks stayed put. She said, “I don't think I should have to stand up,” and the driver had her arrested. Her arrest sparked the 381-day Montgomery Bus Boycott and served as a major catalyst for the overall success of the civil rights movement. Parks was a person on a mission to stand up for what is right in the world, and she paved the way for others to do the same. Over 60 years later, our current political climate often demonstrates that as profound as Parks’ actions were, there are still many people residing in our country who don’t believe

SPEAK FROM THE HEART

It’s May 1, 1969. As the war continues in Vietnam, people gather in the Senate Subcommittee on Communications in D.C. to fight for what they believe is critical to the American public. Proposed budget cuts to Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) threaten the programs that have become dear to so many, and $20 million is on the line. For a public television station, this is everything. Over the course of two days, Senator John Pastore, chairperson of the subcommittee, has listened to speech after speech about why PBS should be awarded the funding. He’s tired of hearing the same bland >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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