Miller Law Office, PLLC - January 2022

Miller Law Office, PLLC - January 2022

January 2022

AaronMillerLaw.com 214.292.4225

January is often a busy time. Work picks up after the holidays, and many people try to build healthy habits for the new year. But we still need time to de-stress; after all, the holidays can be hectic. So, I think it’s fitting that January is National Hobby Month, and it got me thinking about how I spend my downtime. Listening to music is one of my favorite ways to relax. It has been ever since I was a kid. When I was little, we had an old record player and used to listen to all kinds of music. I remember Mom would play anything from Neil Diamond to “The Little Engine That Could.” She used to love to play an album by Stuart Hamblen called “Spell of the Yukon.” I’m not sure if it was him or someone else that did it originally, but it is poetry about Alaska and the Yukon by Robert Service set to music. Mom loved it because her dad did. Granddad always loved Robert Service and could deliver a great recitation of the “Spell of the Yukon” on a moment’s notice. For Mom, it reminded her of her childhood and, now, it does me as well. We used to play it for her when she was in memory care and didn’t know a lot of what was going on otherwise; you could tell she was listening and singing along to it. “The northern lights have seen strange sights, but the strangest they ever did see, was the night on the barge on Lake LaMarge where I cremated Sam McGee.” I’m very grateful this album was on iTunes for her. As I got older, someone introduced me to The Beatles. I think I probably first heard them when I was a senior in high school from a guy that worked at my dad’s print shop. He’d talk about them while we were running the printing presses together. I went to college at the University of Texas at Austin and discovered they had a music library where students could check out CDs. Back before iTunes or even before Napster, CDs or cassette tapes were it. I had a CD player I got as a graduation gift that would copy CDs to cassette tapes. So I’d go check out a Beatles CD, copy them onto cassette tapes, and listen to them endlessly. (Hopefully, the statute of limitations has expired on that one!) Those are long gone, and I’m grateful the surviving members appear to have buried We’ve moved! Come visit our new office on Preston Road! We’ve been using temporary office space in Suite 260 but expect to be in our permanent Suite 118 by January. Update your records with our new address below: Music, Books, and Scuba Diving CELEBRATING NATIONAL HOBBY MONTH

their feud with Apple and allowed their catalog to be included on iTunes. So now, my Beatles collection is definitely legal! As a big bookworm, I always loved reading about them, and there are plenty of book options available. As I got even older, I became a fan of Jimmy Buffett. I love the idea of sand, beach, and the Caribbean. Wendy and I were lucky to see him live some years ago. Huey Lewis and the News opened for him, and we got to wear our Hawaiian shirts. If you haven’t been to a Jimmy Buffett concert, they are quite the event. People often dress up as pirates or in grass skirts and coconut bras (the men). There were quite a few people outside tailgating and having such a good time that I’m pretty sure they never made it into the stadium. When Grace was little, she loved Jimmy Buffett, too, but she couldn’t quite pronounce his name correctly. When his music wasn’t playing in the car, she’d yell, “Jimmy Bucket! Jimmy Bucket!” until I turned it on. Of course, not all of his songs are family-appropriate, so we’d skip those when they came on, but she’d sing her little toddler heart out to the rest. Aside from music, I also have a passion for learning. It almost doesn’t matter what it is — I just love to pick up new knowledge and try new things! I’ve learned how to fly a plane, ride a motorcycle, and scuba dive. I’ve also taken disaster relief training so I can help in the event of a natural disaster. Recently, I bought a drone, so I’m excited to learn how to use it. And this summer, I plan on learning how to sail! Fingers crossed I have time to get that done! Finally, as regular readers will probably know, I love to read. Unless you are a longtime reader, what you may not know is that — to my wife’s chagrin — I collect cookbooks. I once read about the concept of the anti-library, first conceived by author Nassim Taleb. The idea is that it’s better to have shelves full of books you haven’t read than ones you have. Why? Because you still have something to learn from the unread books, and they’ll be ready for you when you need them. So, I like to say I’m building my anti-library of cookbooks — there is always more to learn and more recipes to try! I hope you have a hobby (or many!) that brings you joy. And if you don’t, National Hobby Month is the perfect time to find one. We all need a way to unwind, whether it’s as simple as listening to music or as unusual as flying a plane.

Miller Law Office, PLLC 1400 Preston Road Suite 118 Plano, TX 75093

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ARE YOU CLEANING YOUR EARS WRONG? 2 Doctor-Approved Alternatives to Cotton Swabs

Okay, let’s get something straight once and for all: Exactly how risky is it to use a cotton swab to clean out earwax? You’ve probably heard rumors about the dangers of stuffing Q-tips into your ear canals for years, but most people dismiss them as fearmongering. Unfortunately, those fearmongers have it right. The Truth About Cotton Swabs There’s a reason boxes of cotton swabs almost always say, “DO NOT INSERT INTO EAR CANAL” right on the label. “A cotton swab acts like a ramrod in an old-style cannon. The tip pushes the earwax in deeper, so the more you use it, the more earwax you push in,” Dr. Nguyen-Huynh — an ear, nose, and throat specialist — explained to the Cleveland Clinic. “Plus, you may rupture your eardrum if you push too far. Or if you scratch your ear canal, it can get infected because now dirt and bacteria can penetrate under your skin.” Ear specialist Dr. Yu-Tyng Wong agrees. He told Cedars-Sinai Medical Center that not only can swabbing the ear canal cause hearing loss, but also “[i]n severe cases, the cotton swab can damage many sensitive structures behind the ear canal and cause complete deafness, prolonged vertigo with nausea and vomiting, loss of taste function, and even facial paralysis.” Yikes! A Better Way to Clean According to many doctors, the best way to clean out your ears is simply not to do it. Earwax is actually beneficial for our ear canals: It keeps out dust, and it protects us from fungi and bacteria! However, it is possible for too much earwax to build up, especially if you regularly use earplugs or headphones. Symptoms of excess earwax include hearing loss, tinnitus, earaches, or a strange feeling of fullness in the ear. If this happens, your best bet is to visit your doctor for a professional cleaning or pick up over-the-counter ear-cleaning drops that include hydrogen peroxide on the ingredient list. You can also use a bulb syringe to flush your ear with room-temperature water, mineral oil, or even olive oil in a pinch (visit Healthline.com for step-by-step instructions). However, only use this method if you have a healthy, intact eardrum and no signs of ear infection.

When you think of reading, you might conjure up an image of yourself curled up next to a cozy fireplace, sipping on coffee, and reading the day away. However, with the hustle and bustle of daily life and raising kids, it’s tough to find the time to truly dive into a good book. We know it’s important to read to our children, but we forget how valuable it is for them to see us reading, too. EMBRACE YOUR INNER BOOKWORM 4 Secrets to Finding Time to Read as a Busy Parent

So, how can you fit it into your schedule?

Don’t leave the house without a book. Whether you are waiting in the pickup line at school, at the dentist’s office, for your order at the coffee shop, or at your kid’s soccer practice, this downtime could be spent reading a chapter of your book. Schedule reading time. This one sounds quite silly, but as parents know, if you don’t make time for something, it won’t get done. Plan out 30 minutes of reading time each day to allow yourself to get comfortable and read without distractions. The trick here is to make sure you don’t cancel on yourself! Make it a family affair. Sometimes parents feel guilty when they take time for themselves that could be spent with their children. If this sounds like you, make time to read together — the kids read their books, and you read yours! Some days, this may last 10 minutes, but other times, they may stay captivated longer. Either way, you are creating healthy habits for your kids while getting in a chapter for yourself, too! Swap out the movies for books. Once the kids are tucked in after a long day, it sounds so nice to park yourself in front of the television with a cozy blanket and mindlessly watch a good movie or an episode of your favorite show. However, instead of watching TV for an hour, dedicate some or all of that time to reading. This way, you’re still making progress in your book.

No matter how you make the time to read, you will be glad you did. Good luck and happy reading!

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PLAGUED BY MIGRAINES? Be Careful With These 5 Foods

Pickles Tyramine is also present in pickles, raw onion, and sauerkraut. Consider swapping out some of the pickled items you enjoy for fresh ones. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Likely, you’ve heard that MSG causes headaches, but which foods contain enough MSG to do so? Fast food commonly is high in MSG, especially Chinese food. Snack foods, seasoning, frozen foods, and chips also include a high level of MSG. It is usually listed as an ingredient on the packaging, so check labels if you want to avoid it. Cured and Processed Meats Hot dogs and sausages are not only inflammatory foods, but they also contain nitrites and/or nitrates, which are known to widen your blood vessels — and that can potentially initiate a migraine. Keep in mind that not every migraine is tied to a trigger, but if it is, everyone’s triggers are different. If your trigger is food, the amount you consume also plays a role. If you begin to suspect a certain food or ingredient is a trigger, consume the same amount at the same time of day to try and identify a pattern. Then, start eliminating one food at a time to narrow down the culprit so you can adjust your diet accordingly to reduce the number of migraines you endure. While you can’t control all triggers, such as the weather or environment, you can control what you eat. And, as always, stay hydrated to keep your headaches at bay.

If you regularly fall victim to migraines, you likely know that stress, lack of sleep, certain smells, genetics, and visual stimuli cause pounding headaches that send your body into utter disarray. But did you know that the foods you eat can also be the culprit? Triggers, such as certain foods, can affect your gray matter, the area in your brain that houses motor and sensory function, taste, hearing, vision, and memory. Adjusting your eating habits may help to find you some relief!

Coffee Sometimes, the caffeine in coffee is known to actually cure some killer headaches — that’s why it’s added in migraine medications. However, just as much as it can offer relief, it can be a nasty trigger if your body is used to getting it through your morning cup of coffee — and doesn’t. Oftentimes, caffeine withdrawal is a culprit.

Aged Cheese According to the National Headache Foundation, cheeses that contain tyramine, such as feta, blue cheese, cheddar, and brie, can trigger migraines.

TAKE A BREAK

Inspired by MennoniteGirlsCanCook.ca

DEEP-FRIED NEW YEAR’S ‘COOKIES’

Ingredients

Directions

• 2 tbsp yeast • 1/2 cup water, warmed • 1/2 cup and 1 tsp sugar, divided • 5 eggs, beaten • 1/4 cup butter, softened • 2 1/2 cups milk, warmed

1. In a large bowl, combine yeast, water, and 1 tsp sugar. Wait 10 minutes. 2. Stir in remaining sugar, eggs, butter, milk, and salt. 3. Fold in the raisins and flour. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise for an hour. 4. In a high-sided pot or deep fryer, heat canola oil to 340 F. Line a plate with paper towels. 5. Drop a rounded tablespoon of dough into the oil. Fry until golden brown, then set aside on the plate. Poke the cookie with a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean, it’s cooked through! 6. Repeat until the batter is gone.

SOLUTION

• 1 1/2 tsp salt • 4 cups raisins • 7 cups flour • 4 cups canola oil

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

214.292.4225 www.AaronMillerLaw.com 1400 Preston Road, Suite 118 Plano, Texas 75093 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

Aaron Shares His Favorite Hobbies

2

Make More Time for Reading

The Safe Way to Clean Your Ears

3

Get Migraine Relief by Monitoring These 5 Foods

Deep-Fried New Year’s ‘Cookies’

4

Why Hobbies Are Important

SKILLS THAT ENRICH US

The Importance of Having a Hobby

Hobbies offer a social outlet. Some hobbies involve group activities, such as bowling, sports teams, book clubs, and even wine tasting. Connecting with others offers the

January is National Hobby Month, and since it falls at the beginning of the year, it’s the perfect time to try something new! Hobbies add variety to your life and ensure you aren’t just living to work, so to speak. The best way to find a hobby you enjoy is to be open to new things. Whether it’s gardening, reading, drawing, running, fishing, crafting, or even beekeeping, finding an activity you enjoy is important. Here’s why!

social support humans depend on to lead a healthy and fruitful life. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find some great friends who share the same passions as you!

Hobbies develop patience. When you take on a new hobby, you are

Hobbies are stress relievers. Hobbies offer a healthy escape from your busy lifestyle by keeping you engaged in something you find pleasure in. Instead of just relaxing on the couch and turning off your mind for a bit (which is totally acceptable sometimes), hobbies allow you to remain mentally productive while winding down at the same time.

tasked with learning something new. Whether you’re practicing a new instrument, learning a different language, or figuring out how to make jewelry, a learning curve is involved. Building new skills takes patience, a very important attribute for success.

Finding a hobby that suits you may take some exploration and trial and error, but it is all in good fun! Make it your goal to try something new or learn a new skill each month until you find something that sticks. Once you do, you’re sure to find that hobbies are both

Hobbies also provide eustress . Believe it or not, one type of stress is deemed beneficial: eustress. If you aren’t overly stressed and are feeling a little under-stimulated, a hobby can provide activity for both your mind and body to keep you feeling excited about life and ready to take on new challenges and adventures.

enjoyable and enriching!

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