Van Dyk Mortgage - January 2020

Van Dyk Mortgage - January 2020

JANUARY 2020

Letters From the Hart Give us a call! 239-437-4278 Or visit www.TimHartJr.com GETTING OUT OF MY OWN WAY How to Beat Your Own Bad Habits Corporate NMLS #3035 www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

I ’ve never been a New Year’s resolutions guy. In fact, I’d say I’m anti-New Year’s resolutions. Don’t get me wrong, if you’re the kind of person who makes New Year’s resolutions every year and really knocks them out of the park, then I applaud you. That’s impressive self-discipline. Most of us, myself included, fall on the opposite side of the resolution spectrum. This time of year, you’ve probably heard all about how New Year’s resolutions fail. There are a lot of theories about why this happens. Personally, I think the reason so many New Year’s resolutions fail is because we tie these goals to the arbitrary human date of Jan. 1. We’ve given New Year’s Day some magic power as if we’re more likely to be successful if we set goals at the start of the new year. But in reality, we often use New Year’s resolutions as an excuse to put off starting our goals. We have the bad habit of knowing we need to make a change or start a project, but we put self-imposed obstacles in our way. We’re always waiting for the “right” time. “I’m going to start a podcast — as soon as I build my studio.” “I’m going to make videos for my business — after I get my teeth fixed.” “I’m going to quit smoking — when my job is less stressful.” Waiting for the right time, when the conditions are perfect before making a change, is a lot like waiting until Jan. 1 to start New Year’s resolutions; we’re finding reasons not to start the hard work and make that change right then and there. I want it on record that I am entirely guilty of this myself. I’ve spent years sitting on great ideas that haven’t come into reality just because I haven’t made it happen yet. If goal setting isn’t your strong suit, know that you’re not alone; I’m right there with you. While there are areas I’m constantly battling in my personal life, when it comes to my work goals, I’d like to think that I’m a lot more successful. This is partly because in my industry, we have to constantly be hustling. It’s like a farmer planting their seeds. If they don’t sow the land now, there will be no crops to harvest later. At the office, we always have to be moving if we want to keep seeing results. If we tried to roll through the holidays and

wait until Jan. 1 to kick things into gear again, we’d have no business in the month of March/April! In our business, what you do today shows up about three months later in the form of a closed loan. We’d be starting in a hole and struggling to get back on track. Waiting until Jan. 1 to start working on your goals is one way people get in their own way — hitting the snooze button when you should be getting up. Most of us are guilty of putting off the change we need to make to improve our lives. It’s hard to beat those bad habits. Trust me, I know. But if we’re able to push past and make those changes, 2020 can be a really great year. And if you ever need someone to talk to about the struggles of goal setting and beating your own bad habits, know I’m right there with you. “If goal setting isn’t your strong suit, know that you’re not alone; I’m right there with you.”

NMLS #354676

VanDyk Mortgage | www.TimHartJr.com | 239-437-4278

Page 1

Screen-Time Strategies

How to Set a Family Media Use Plan

the digital world. Explain to them that certain content isn’t age-appropriate, and teach them what movie and TV ratings mean. Remind them to be careful about what they put on the internet because anything they upload never really goes away. Teach them to be smart with their decisions. Connect with them on social media if it helps you keep an eye on things. Construct a ‘Media Diet’ Take an active role in what your children watch by co-viewing programs with them. You’ll have a better sense of what they’re seeing and can point them toward the programming that’s right for them. Look for educational media choices that teach good values. There are a lot of great educational opportunities on the internet, but there’s also a lot of room for negative

With 24/7 media exposure from TVs, computers, and smartphones, it feels like life is dominated by screens. Consider implementing a media use plan for your family so they don’t miss out on the real world. Set a Curfew Limiting the time your children spend staring at a screen is good for their health. Try to keep screen- time usage to under two hours per day. Implement a rule for no screens at mealtimes, and keep all screens out of bedrooms at night. Keep track of the devices by having a communal charging dock in a shared area where you can make sure everything is plugged in for the night. Have a Chat Don’t shy away from warning your kids about what exists in

exposure. If this is a concern, keep the family computer in a public part of your home so you can see what they’re accessing online. It’s important to educate your children about proper media health, but it’s even more important to encourage your kids to be healthy in other ways. Beyond the tips mentioned above, encourage them to play outdoors and read physical books so they can participate more actively in the real world.

Escape to a Winter Wonderland

Chill Out in These Frosty Destinations

pot of flavors from Austria, northern Italy, and the local Ladin people. Ricotta and sauerkraut pancakes, anyone?

however, which also happens to be when Bulguksa is at its most pristine. The iced-over lotus ponds and snow-dusted pagodas add to the sense of tranquility this site naturally exudes.

Snow is magical and gorgeous — unless you have to commute in it. If you want to enjoy all the wonder that winter has to offer without the hassle, why not turn it into a vacation? Here are a few breathtaking, snow-covered destinations that any winter lover can enjoy. Above the city of Gyeongju, this ancient Buddhist temple has stood on the slopes of Tohamsan Mountain since the eighth century. Bulguksa, or “Temple of the Buddha Land,” is South Korea’s No. 1 UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it a popular attraction for domestic and international tourism. The crowds and school tours die down during the winter, Bulguksa Temple, South Korea

The Antarctic

The Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy

This is the one entry on this list that is best enjoyed during the summer months, which is December–February in the Southern Hemisphere, because that’s when the freezing temperatures of the southernmost continent are at their most hospitable. The Antarctic has become an increasingly popular tourist destination, with cruises taking adventure seekers through the vast, untouched beauty of this far-flung destination. Some tourists even enjoy kayaking or cross-country skiing through this icy paradise.

If you want the feel of a ski trip to the Alps without the packed slopes and ritzy resorts, the Dolomites are just for you. Located in northeastern Italy, this stunning mountain range is home to some of the best skiing in Europe, as well as many historical sites. The secluded villages that dot the mountain valleys are an attraction in their own right, especially for the rustic cuisine you’ll find there. Don’t expect pasta though. This region is a melting

VanDyk Mortgage | www.TimHartJr.com | 239-437-4278

Page 2

... CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Where did the skunk ape come from? Skeptics often point out that there are no monkeys or great apes in North America, so how could a creature like the skunk ape exist? The thing to remember is that when it comes to wildlife, science isn’t always right. At one point, pelicans, antelopes, and narwhals were all believed to be cryptids. And, as recently as August 2013, scientists “discovered” a new carnivore in South America — the olinguito had eluded the scientific community for most of modern history, despite many stories confirming this little creature’s existence. The first skunk ape sighting was reported in 1957 when a pair of hunters claimed a massive, smelly ape invaded their camp in the Everglades. Skunk apes had their heyday in the ‘60s and ‘70s. In the fall of 1974, multiple reports were filed in Dade County. Over two decades later, a tour bus full of 40 people reported seeing “a seven-foot, red-haired ape” running through the Everglades. Dave himself has captured photos and video of skunk apes over the years, as recently as 2000. Long before the sightings in the 20th century, there were stories of large, strange creatures roaming the Everglades. The Miccosukee and Seminole tribes had legends of a creature they called “esti capcaki” or “Tall Man.” They said Tall Man was a giant who protected the woods and would chase away those seeking to harm the forest. How come we don’t see skunk apes often? Dave estimates there are between 7–9 skunk apes living in the Everglades, with as many as 30 in the whole state. Many skeptics insist the skunk ape is a hoax because a body has never been recovered. According to Dave, these people don’t know anything about the Everglades. “I have spent my whole life in the Everglades, and I have yet to find a dead panther or a dead black bear,” Dave said. “Bones just don’t last long here. They dissolve into the ground, or they’re carried off by another animal.” Things decompose quickly in the swamp. And with a size of 2.2 million acres, it’s no wonder less than a dozen skunk apes could remain hidden so well.

While the news doesn’t report as many skunk ape sightings as they did in the ‘60s and ‘70s, Dave says he sees evidence of skunk apes regularly. “In Myakka, it’s almost an annual report of someone seeing something,” Dave said. “It isn’t really accurate to say they aren’t seen often … I can tell you, hunters bring me pictures from game cams with skunk apes on them all the time. We get two or three hunters a year who come in and say, ‘Look what passed in from of my trail camera!’ They’re good pictures. A lot of evidence, but none of it is being looked into.” Regardless of whether they’re fact or fiction, talking about skunk apes with Dave Shealy was a lot of fun. I highly recommend checking out the full interview and all of Dave’s great skunk ape stories by visiting TimHartJr.com/ podcast.php .

SUDOKU

Trivia Question: What do we call "Florida's Bigfoot"?

Solution on Pg. 4

VanDyk Mortgage | www.TimHartJr.com | 239-437-4278

Page 3

Be the first to answer the question on Page 3 by emailing [email protected] and win a Visa gift card!

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Inside This Issue Tim Hart, NMLS #354676 8280 College Parkway Suite #101 Fort Myers, FL 33919 Time to Be Anti-New Year’s Resolutions PAGE 1

Give us a call! 239-437-4278 Or visit www.TimHartJr.com

Tips to Establish a Family Media Use Plan

Real Winter Wonderlands PAGE 2 Testimonial from the Hart PAGE 3 Bigfoot of the Everglades PAGE 4

Expert Dave Shealy Talks Florida’s Favorite Cryptid SEARCHING FOR THE SKUNK APE

I’ve always been fascinated by the skunk ape, so I invited Dave onto “The HartBeat Show” to answer some questions about his favorite cryptid. Isn’t the skunk ape just Bigfoot? “Skunk apes look at lot like Bigfoot,” Dave confirmed. “If you were in the Everglades and you saw a skunk ape, you’d probably tell someone, ‘I just saw a Bigfoot!’ But actually, there are some differences.” Dave explained that while Bigfoot sightings report a creature that’s at least 800 pounds, people who have seen skunk apes described something a lot smaller, between 300–400 pounds. Plus, skunk apes spend most of their time in trees and tend to be reddish in color. The biggest difference between a skunk ape and Bigfoot, according to Dave, is that skunk apes leave a four-toed track, compared to Bigfoot’s five toes. It's also worth noting that you’ll smell a skunk ape before you see it. Dave believes skunk apes smell because they hide in alligator caves. “There are some dead animals in there, the methane gathers, and they come out stinkin’.”

“When I was 10 years old, my brother and I were out in the Everglades National Park when my brother saw something out in the trees. I couldn’t see because the grass was too high, and he had to pick me up to where I could see out over the grass. Out about a hundred yards away, there was an animal covered with fur, standing like a man. It looked exactly how we had been told a skunk ape looked. That was my first encounter with the skunk ape.” This strange story was shared on a recent episode of my podcast by none other than Everglades skunk ape expert, Dave Shealy. Dave grew up in Ochopee hearing stories of the legendary skunk ape. Nicknamed “Florida’s Bigfoot,” the skunk ape is said to be a large hairy ape with an intense, pungent smell. Though the United States National Park Service insists the skunk ape is nothing but a local myth, stories of skunk ape sightings can be found throughout Florida. Dave has seen what he

believes to be the skunk ape three different times.

After decades of researching the skunk ape, Dave has more than earned the title of expert.

CONTINUED ON PG. 3 ...

VanDyk Mortgage | www.TimHartJr.com | 239-437-4278

Page 4