Take a look at our January newsletter!
Plan today for peace of mind tomorrow. JANUARY 2023
We’ve officially made it through another year and can now set our focus on what’s to come in 2023. Many people use this time to set resolutions they hope to enact in the coming year, but I’ve found it’s difficult for people to maintain their resolutions for long. According to Forbes, nearly 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. Resolutions often fail because they’re simply a declaration of change rather than a goal with a plan to support it. If you want to accomplish your goals in 2023, it’s essential to create a solid plan. It All Starts With Creating a Goal and Plans WANT TO FIND SUCCESS IN 2023?
I can control their summers, so I’m going to take advantage of the situation and make plans for my family.
One goal I make every year is to become more engaged with my kids. I will not achieve this goal, however, by simply speaking it into existence. I have to figure out what it means to be engaged with them and then create a plan. Last year, I decided to have a date day or night with each of my kids once a
month. That way, I can have individual one-on-one time with each of my kids, learn more about what’s happening in their lives, and give them the attention they deserve. It was a great experience last year, and I’m going to keep with it this year, too. I don’t do anything crazy when I create my plans for the new year. I start with a blank sheet of paper titled “Shoup Family Plan for 20XX.” I think about what I want the end of the year to look like and what experiences I can have each year that will bring a smile to my face. I then get writing and hold myself accountable for my goals. I always save my plans and keep them in a safe
I’ve been a planner my entire life, so I always set time aside in January to figure out what my year is going to look like and what I hope to achieve. I start by looking back on the previous year. I review everything we did and determine if we did everything we wanted. I then sit down with my husband and plot precisely what we want to do and see in the new year. We’ll determine what vacations we want to take, what family experiences we want to have, and our personal and professional goals for the year. We’ll then create plans to ensure each goal is obtainable.
“Planning allows us to
take ownership and create the lives we want.”
I’ve found if we aren’t intentional about what we want in life, we simply go through the motions. We let the days, weeks, and months just happen to us. We need to take control and shape our lives into what we want them to be. In my experience, when I sit down and plan out what I want to happen, it’s much more likely I will achieve it. Planning allows us to take ownership and create the lives we want. If I could have anything this year, what would I do? For the past few years, I’ve been asking myself a much more important question: What do I want to make sure my kids experience? This is when I plan our summer vacations to ensure they’re the best they can be. We only have 18 years together when
place when finished. Sometimes, I’ll even look back on them for inspiration. In a way, they’re like a chronicle of what I’ve done and accomplished in my life.
If you’re planning to set resolutions or goals this year, try to create a plan to help you accomplish what you set out to do. The proper plan will make all the difference in achieving your goals.
–Andrea Shoup
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THE POWER OF MEDITATION EXPLORING 5 KEY BENEFITS OF MEDITATION
Lengthen attention span. Did you know that meditating can improve your accuracy and attention when completing a task? This will help you focus on the tasks at hand, and you can better direct and control your full attention! Generate kindness. Meditation has been proven to increase feelings of positivity and encourage acts of kindness toward yourself and those around you. Studies have shown that individuals have a heightened sense of compassion after meditation!
Meditation promotes better sleep, less anxiety, improved self-awareness, and lower blood pressure. Before the pandemic, the practice was trending upward in popularity, but now, meditation has become even more popular as it helps many to cope with stress and mental health complications.
Let’s take a look at many reasons to set aside 10 minutes in your day to meditate!
Reduce stress and anxiety. Studies have proven that meditation reduces cortisol and the inflammation response, which can disrupt sleep patterns, bring on depression and anxiety, and cause fatigue. Through meditation, you may find a new perspective on stressful situations or build new skills to help you to manage stress in the future. Boost emotional well-being. Some types of meditation lead to a positive outlook on life and an improved self-image. According to research, it can even help manage and reduce symptoms of depression. It promotes a sense of peace, calm, and balance in your life!
For more positivity in your life and relationships, meditate!
Improve sleep. A whopping 70 million people in the U.S. deal with some sort of sleep disorder at some point in their lives. Studies have
shown that meditation can help individuals stay asleep for longer segments of time and reduce the severity of insomnia while reducing tension. If you haven’t already, incorporating meditation into your daily routine can surely yield many positive benefits and results! And what do you have to lose?
Whenever we hire a new team member, we want nothing more than for them to grow in their role. Many come to us with dreams of working in a legal office or one day becoming a lawyer, and it’s gratifying that we can help them recognize and reach their goals. This past summer, we welcomed Bianca to our team, and she’s been a shining beacon of compassion, kindness, and support to everyone who has walked through our doors. For the past 10 years, Bianca has been dedicated to raising her three wonderful children. She’s always wanted to return to school after earning her bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Cal State Northridge and finally got her chance when the pandemic began. While Bianca’s kids were learning at home through online classes, Bianca decided to join a paralegal studies program. After she helped her kids with their homework, she turned to her own studies and completed the program in half the time it usually takes. She loved the program as it gave her a glimpse into the life of a paralegal, and when her kids returned to school, Bianca found a job with us. Since joining our team, Bianca has been chiefly involved with trust administration and probate, but also has her hands in other aspects of what we do. She’s always finding a way to help and has served as an excellent in-house translator for our Spanish-speaking clients, as she is bilingual and fluent in Spanish. Chasing Her Legal Dreams OUR PARALEGAL, BIANCA
When you work with Bianca, you can be assured you’re in good hands. She always tries to connect with her clients and will go out of her way to do anything she can to help them. She fits in well with the rest of the team at Shoup Legal, and we’re excited to watch her grow in her role and further explore the legal field. When Bianca is away from work, she stays busy taking care of her three kids and husband. She never misses one of her kids’ sporting or school events. She’s also an avid reader and will use any excuse to pick up and read a new book for a few hours.
Plan today for peace
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Easy Cherry Cobbler Inspired by Life-In-The-Lofthouse.com
LAUGH A LITTLE MORE
On a cold winter night, few things are better than warm bites of yummy cobbler. This recipe’s sweet and fluffy crust perfectly balances the tart cherry filling to create the ultimate after- dinner treat. Ingredients
It’s Good for You!
• • • • • •
1/4 cup salted butter, melted
1 cup cake flour or all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp baking powder
1 cup milk
1 21-oz can cherry pie filling
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In the bottom of a 2.5-quart baking dish, pour melted butter. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk until combined. 4. In the baking dish, pour batter over the butter, and don’t stir. Then, pour the cherry pie filling over the batter, and don’t stir. 5. Bake 45 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Laughter is a vital part of our lives. A popular proverb states, “Laughter is the best medicine,” and I couldn’t agree more with that sentiment. When we can laugh, especially when we’re going through a tough time, it can put things in a better perspective. For every up, there’s a down, and there are difficult moments for every great moment. We’re going to experience some tough times during our lives, but we must experience them in full. There will be plenty of time for joy and laughter, even during those tough moments. I first understood this concept when I was attending a family friend’s funeral when I was younger. He passed away in his 40s in a sad accident and left behind five kids and a wife. The entire service was quite somber except for one moment. I was sitting a few rows behind the widow and her kids when the husband’s picture fell from the top of his casket. The mother and kids erupted in laughter. This unexpected laughter was so beautiful and poignant in the middle of the service. It almost felt like it changed the atmosphere in the room. After the service, we talked to the family, and they said the picture falling from the casket was a sign their father was still there with them. He made the picture fall to elicit laughter from them. Being a teenager at that funeral was a surreal experience. I thought it had to be serious and sad, but the laughter coming back into that room provided healing to those affected. As humans, we experience an entire range of emotions. All emotions are good, even though they might not always feel that way. Life is more upbeat if we can find ways to laugh during the good and bad times. My husband and I never miss an opportunity to add more laughter to our lives. We’ll watch romantic comedies or attend a stand-up show if we need a little more laughter or joy. It always seems to do the trick. The next time you feel down, try watching your favorite funny movie or comedian. It will quickly alter your mood for the better!
TAKE A BREAK
–Andrea Shoup
e of mind tomorrow.
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Plan today for peace of mind tomorrow. 39755 Date St., Ste. 203 | Murrieta, CA 92563 (951) 445-4114 | www.shouplegal.com
1 | Developing Plans to Accomplish Our Goals 2 | The Benefits of Meditation 2 | Get to Know Bianca 3 | The Importance of Laughter 3 | Easy Cherry Cobbler 4 | 3 Unique Winter Activities to Experience Inside This Issue
Throughout winter, we have the opportunity to participate in many activities that are only possible during this season. We can ski, snowboard, snowshoe, sled, and more. While some people fly south for winter vacations to escape the cold weather, others travel to extraordinary winter destinations within our country. Plenty of options are available if you’re looking for a truly unique experience this winter. Here are three winter activities that will leave you with long‑lasting memories. Snowmobile Tours in Alaska Alaska is one of America’s hidden gems, even though it’s the biggest U.S. state. If you’re looking for unique winter experiences, you’ll want to visit Alaska. One of the coolest adventures you can experience is a snowmobile tour. You can hop aboard a snowmobile and ride the same path as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race or visit some beautiful mountains and glaciers. Many of these tours will lead you right past moose, bears, and caribou as you take in the beauty of Alaska’s environment. Skating on Mirror Lake at Lake Placid Lake Placid, New York, had the privilege of hosting the Winter Olympics twice, so it’s no surprise they have some amazing cold weather activities to showcase. A truly exceptional experience is skating on Mirror Lake. They have a 2-mile-long ice track where you can test your speed and areas for people to skate openly or play a game of ice hockey. You can even participate in dog sledding there. It’s a beautiful area filled with various winter activities. Ice Fishing Excursions in Brainerd, Minnesota While fishing might be more commonly known as a spring or summer activity, you can get plenty of fishing done in the winter if you know where to go. Brainerd is considered one of the best places to visit for ice fishing enthusiasts. There are over 300 fishing lakes near the city, and you can expect to catch bluegill, walleye, largemouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, and many others. If you like to fish throughout the year, check out Brainerd.
Want to Try Something New This Winter? Check Out These 3 Unique Activities
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