Van Dyck Law - Q3 2021

Van Dyck Law - Q3 2021

VanDyckLaw

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QUARTER 3 2021

Lessons From Finn the Great Pyrenees and George the Terrier During the Dog Days of Summer

Whenever I hear someone say something to the effect of “you can be what you want to be, not just who you’re told you can be,” I think of my two dogs, Finn and George. They couldn’t be more different, and yet they’re the best of friends. And since August is sometimes known as the “dog days of summer,” what better time to put them both in the spotlight? Finn came into our lives first. He’s a 10-year- old, 125-pound Great Pyrenees, just an enormous ball of white fur. We adopted him from a kill shelter in Texas when he was just 8 months old. Now, one thing you should know about Great Pyrenees dogs is that they’re livestock guardians dogs. Their sole purpose in life is to protect their flock, and they would quite literally rather die than allow any one of their flock to be injured. However, with no livestock to be seen in our little suburban neighborhood, Finn has decided that we, his people, are his flock/herd. So, Finn spends his days protecting us, our yard and really the neighborhood from any predators — a term he defines very broadly to include everything from wolves and coyotes to falling leaves and butterflies. Seriously, anytime

Finn senses “danger” (which could be that butterfly with what he is sure is an evil intent), he barks vociferously to let them know that he is there and that he means business— much to the chagrin of our neighbors. While they might complain, though, they can’t argue with the results. Coyotes and foxes haven’t even tried to go after their cats with Finn around! Alongside Finn, we have George, a small, 17-pound Parson Russell terrier. My mother rescued George from a hoarding situation in Hunterdon County, where his previous owner had about 200 dogs. He spent his first six years of life in a crate, had never climbed stairs, and had never put his paws on grass. On top of that, Parson Russell terriers are known for their boundless energy. So, combine that with his past, and you have a dog that was an absolute terror to my 84-year-old mother. One day, she brought George over to our house to play so that she could get a break from him, and she never came back to pick him up. Soon after we took George off my mother’s hands, it became clear that George worshipped Finn. On the other hand, it would be an overstatement to say that Finn tolerated George. For a long time, he wouldn’t even look George in the eye! I think he saw him as a nuisance to his mission of protecting us. We have a lot of squirrels and rabbits that come into our yard, as well as a family of groundhogs that live under the playhouse. While Finn sees butterflies as a threat, I think he sees the rabbits, groundhogs, and squirrels

as a part of his herd. He never attacks them, but he will check on the family of groundhogs every day. George, on the other hand, is a terrier, bred for going after small game. It really clashed with Finn’s guarding instincts, until something pretty remarkable happened. Over time, George has abandoned his terrier instincts and become the smallest livestock guardian dog on the planet. Finn’s indifference toward George has turned into an affection for the little dog, and George helps Finn take care of the yard and all of its small creatures. Every morning, he goes out and surveys the perimeter of our yard to make sure there have been no breaches, checks on the family of groundhogs to make sure they’re okay, and no longer chases the squirrels and rabbits. He’s become Finn’s little shadow and has joined in his mission of protection. Author Paulo Coelho once wrote that “maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything, (but that) it’s about unbecoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can become what you were meant to be in the first place.” Even though George is supposed to be a small prey pursuing dog, he’s decided that he wants to be a livestock guardian dog. Maybe we can all take a page from George’s playbook and decide for ourselves what we’re meant to become. -Fiona Van Dyck

“Maybe we can all take a page from George’s playbook and decide for ourselves what we’re meant to become.”

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Get Your Train of Thought Back on Track

REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT YOURSELF. Paraphrasing your last few thoughts out loud can help you remember where you were going. Think of it as retracing your steps: You go back to the last words you remember saying, and more often than not, you’ll find your direction again. TAKE A SHORT PAUSE. Pausing briefly is a great way to make recovering your train of thought seem natural. This hack works really well if you’re answering a question and you need time to think, and you also don’t want to be bogged down by a chorus of “ums” escaping from your mouth. WRITE IT ALL DOWN. This hack works well when you know beforehand that you’ll be speaking with someone or in front of people. Even if you never refer to your notes while speaking, simply writing down a road map for your train of thought can help you recover from a detour and speak more confidently. REMEMBER YOUR OVERALL POINT. The easiest way to drive your train of thought into the weeds is to forget your overall point — or not to have an overriding point at all. Always have a short, overarching point you can use to recenter yourself and get back on track. With these hacks, your brain will have to work a lot harder to make you lose your train of thought! Now you’ll be more prepared to tackle any subject matter, no matter how deep or technical, that comes your way.

RECOVERY HACKS Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation, presentation, or debate, stringing together thoughts in a way you hope is coherent and insightful

when — poof! — you lose your train of thought? It’s frustrating. You just want to make yourself understood, but your brain has other plans. What if there were a way to keep your train of thought on track? Well, the good news is that recovering your train of thought is easy with the following hacks in mind.

Coming Up at the Van Dyck Law Education Center Our Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) Class

The CDP class is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 14–15 at the Education Center. As the time for this event comes closer, you’ll be able to find more information about it at VanDyckFirm.com/resources/the- education-center . You can also give us a call at 609-293-3236 if you have any questions. It’s been more than a year of social distancing and only seeing people through Zoom calls and video screens, so we’re excited to host this event in person. We hope that if you have a heart for people with dementia and you want to know how to best care for them, we’ll see you in September!

As the weather heats up and the world continues to reopen, we’re happy to announce what’s coming up at the Van Dyck Law Education Center. Over the next few months, we only have one event of note, but we want to make sure you fully understand the importance of our Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) class. Over six million people in the United States live with Alzheimer’s, and it kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alzheimer’s and dementia deaths increased by 16%. We at Van Dyck Law understand that this disease is very present and know the heartbreaking reality for many of our clients and members of our community. That’s why we want to do everything we can to equip those who do the work of caring for people with dementia through our Education Center. The Certified Dementia Practitioner class can prepare anyone to grapple with the challenges of caring for someone with dementia. It’s a necessary step toward becoming a CDP, so if you’re in the process of becoming one, the class offered through the Van Dyck Law Education Center will count as an Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar in the eyes of the NCCDP (National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners).

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Don’t Let the Heat Beat You Tips for Seniors on How to Avoid Heat-Related Illnesses

We’re about to enter the hottest part of the year, and while the heat can certainly pose health risks for people of all ages, seniors are especially at risk. Even if seniors are healthy and active for their age, a hot summer day can lead to a number of health problems. So, what are the health problems to watch out for, and how can seniors mitigate the risks that come when the sun’s rays beam down just a little too hard? ILLNESSES AND CONDITIONS RELATED TO OVERHEATING According to the National Institute on Aging, there are several illnesses, all grouped under a condition called “hyperthermia,” that are the result of overheating. They include heat syncope, heat cramps, heat edema, heat exhaustion, and worst of all, heat stroke. Heat stroke occurs when your body loses its ability to sweat and cool itself down, resulting in very high fevers that require hospitalization. CONDITIONS THAT INCREASE THE RISK OF HEAT ILLNESSES People with heart, lung, or kidney problems, as well as those with heart and blood

vessel problems are at an increased risk for heat-related illnesses. Being overweight or underweight and drinking alcoholic beverages can also cause heat-related illnesses. At the same time, if you have a condition treated by drugs such as sedatives, tranquilizers, or diuretics, they may make it harder for your body to cool itself down.

HOW TO LOWER YOUR RISK OF OVERHEATING The best thing you can do to prevent

overheating is to drink plenty of water and/ or fruit or vegetable juices. Avoid alcohol or caffeine. If you live in a home or apartment with no AC, keep your blinds closed during the hottest parts of the day and open your windows at night. Try to spend as much time as you can in air conditioning as possible. Avoid strenuous activities during the hot parts of the day and always dress in light, loose clothing when out in the sun.

We hope you have a safe, fun rest of your summer!

VAN DYCK LAW EDUCATION CENTER EVENTS IN BRIEF As the weather heats up and the world continues to reopen, we’re happy to share a little bit about the latest offerings from Van Dyck Law’s Education Center. Though the events coming up during the rest of this summer may seem a little sparse, it’s only because we’re gearing up for a busy fall! CERTIFIED DEMENTIA PRACTITIONER CLASS Dates: Sept. 14–15, 2021 Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This class is for anyone working to become a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), as it counts as a NCCDP Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar. So, if you’re a caregiver who needs your certification before starting your new caregiver position, sign up for our CDP class as soon as you can! For more information about these classes and seminars, visit our website at VanDyckFirm.com/resources/the-education- center to learn more or call us at 609-580-1044.

Inspired by Delish.com Easy Zucchini Enchiladas

This healthy summer dish is the perfect way to use up extra zucchini!

INGREDIENTS • 1 cup cooked chicken, diced • 1 14-oz can artichokes, drained and quartered • 1 cup fresh asparagus pieces • 1/2 cup carrots, grated • 1 1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta • 1 3/4 cups chicken broth • 1/2 cup fresh chives, chopped and divided • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped and divided • 2 tsp minced garlic • 1/4 tsp salt • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring for 5 minutes. 2. Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt. Cook for 1 minute, then add chicken and 1 cup enchilada sauce. Stir to combine. 3. On a cutting board, lay out three slices of zucchini side by side. Top each with a scoop of chicken mixture, then roll into a tube. Repeat with remaining zucchini slices. 4. Add the rolls to a baking dish. 5. Top the rolls with the remaining enchilada sauce and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Top with garnishes!

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Lessons From Finn and George for the Dog Days of Summer Life Hack: How to Recover Your Train of Thought Become a CDP at the Van Dyck Law Education Center Tips for Seniors on How to Avoid Heat-Related Illnesses Easy Zucchini Enchiladas Education Center Events in Brief

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Is ‘Hammocking’ a Better Way to Sleep?

(THEORETICAL) BENEFITS OF SLEEPING WHILE SWINGING Is ‘Hammocking’ a Better Way to Sleep?

Hammocking has become a popular leisure activity within the last 5–10 years, with the global hammock market growing about 17% between 2017 and 2021. As fun as it is, though, could hammocking be more than that? Could it be a better way to sleep, not just on camping trips or in the park, but in our homes, too? The short answer is that the >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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