Check out our Oct newsletter!
DathanLHill.com 225-266-2948
October 2022
Heebie Jeebies Be Gone! Manifesting Fear for the Better
Come up with a game plan. Once you have an idea where your fear is coming from, decide whether or not it’s possible to face this fear. If so, a detailed plan of action is key; vague plans tend to leave you stranded and incomplete. Instead, set a timeline and stick to it. For example, if your fear is heights, set a goal to climb a little bit higher on your weekly hiking trips. If the thought of meeting new people intimidates you, put a plan in place to attend one social mixer a month for at least two hours each time. The key is to leave little doubt about what your next move should be. Commit. It’s all about the follow-through. Once you have your plan in place, it’s up to you to make it happen. To get rid of fear, you have to turn it into motivation. If public speaking sends you into a sweaty mess of anxiety, use it as motivation and sign yourself up for a public speaking course, which you know will put you way out of your comfort zone. Taking action puts fear in its place and helps you focus on your goal more clearly.
Did you know that roughly 19 million people in the United States have a specific phobia? At one point or another, we’ve all been afraid of something, whether a spider in the bathroom, the chilling view down the side of a steep mountain, the unknown in the ocean swimming around below us, or the giant snake in the vegetable garden. Sometimes, we fear rejection, failure, or loneliness. Other times, like this month, scary Halloween movies can send chilling pins and needles up and down our spines.
By following through with your plan, you’ll be on your way to working through your fear and turning it into a positive asset.
This Halloween, scary movies, chilling decorations, and creepy costumes may give you goosebumps and make you feel a little uneasy, but if you can learn to turn fear into motivation, your true fears could be one of the best things to ever happen to you!
Fear is only natural. While it can leave us feeling a little bit outside of our comfort zones, if we harvest it correctly, great things can come from rising above something holding us back. Here are some strategies to help you conquer your fears! Assess the whole situation. Why exactly are you afraid of spiders? Are you afraid of them crawling all over you? Do they have so many legs that it just freaks you out? Did you have a bad experience in the past? No matter the reason, it’s important to acknowledge your fear and treat it as valid. Once you accept it as your own, it’s easier to begin overcoming it instead of wishing or hiding it away. Next, determine whether or not the reason behind your fear is worth spending time and energy worrying about. If not, it becomes easier to let go and detach yourself from the fear. Fear doesn’t define you.
What are some of your greatest fears or phobias and how do you plan to tackle them?
–Dathan Hill
DathanLHill.com | 1
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Teenager Saves a Woman’s Life After Taking One First-Aid Training Class
It was a typical day at work for 15-year-old McDonald’s worker Sydney Raley — she was taking orders, engaging with customers, and delivering food. Everything went as planned for Raley until the unexpected happened. After handing a woman part of her order, Raley left the drive-thru window to retrieve the rest of her food. But when she returned, something strange happened. “She was coughing like crazy, and I noticed she was gagging … I immediately knew, ‘Oh, no, she’s choking,’” Raley told CNN. The woman’s daughter freaked out because she felt so scared for her mother. Even some of the McDonald’s employees seemed shocked and momentarily unable to take action. Luckily, Raley knew what to do. She immediately told her colleague to dial 911 as she dove through the drive-thru window to help the choking woman. Besides working at the fast-food chain, Raley was also a babysitter and had taken
a first-aid class through the Red Cross. In this class, she learned the Heimlich maneuver, which Raley used to dislodge the chicken nugget the woman had eaten. Although the woman was in shock after what she endured, she felt grateful for the teen and her act of heroism. Her bravery didn’t go unnoticed by Paul Ostergaard either, the owner-operator of the McDonald’s where Raley worked. He told CNN, “Sydney truly personifies what it is to be a hero.” In addition to this recognition, Raley also received $100 from a fund first-responders use to reward people who do brave work within the community. Thank you, Sydney, for showing us that not all heroes wear capes — they are in our community everywhere we go. We encourage everyone to take a first-aid training course, so all of us can become the heroes of tomorrow. Plus, you never know when that knowledge will come in handy.
Never a Dull Moment Why We Should Live for Today
We can’t change the past, nor can we predict or guarantee the future. In the end, all we have is the present, yet most of us live our lives ignoring its many possibilities. It’s easy to tune out the life around you, especially if you do many of the same things every day. Taking care of the kids, commuting, working, and running errands can blur together. Just as bad, when life isn’t going the way we want, it’s easy to fantasize about how things “should” be or how they once were. When we live busy or stressful lives, worrying or planning can also make us feel more in control. The problem with these strategies is that they don’t change anything. They help us discount the only thing we can control: what we do now. Life can pass you by that way if you’re not careful. The solution is to exist in the present moment as much as possible and enjoy the good things around us while we have them. Studies show that living this way makes people happier, healthier, and more likely to form strong relationships. But how do you even get started? The process requires a different way of thinking called mindfulness. Mindfulness is about focusing on what is happening in the present moment — not that work deadline, the movie you just watched, what’s for dinner, or the kids’ extracurricular schedule. It takes practice, and many people use meditation or breathing to help.
When mindful, we concentrate on what others say and become more fully present. We also start to notice the small things we usually overlook: the cool breeze on our skin, the sound of the birds, the feel of a sweater, or the sight of our loved ones smiling. Our lives become fuller. And our stress decreases because we’re not clinging to things beyond our command. No one ever stops worrying entirely, and some planning is necessary to live a successful life. But too much can leave us with no energy or time to enjoy it. John Lennon once sang, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” Start living in the present so you don’t blink and miss yours.
2 | 225-266-2948
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
IT’S WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY! 3 Ways to Show Gratitude
Support Judge Donald Johnson
Teachers have impacted you and your children’s lives in more ways than one. Maybe they inspired you to take a certain career path, always understood you, or were there for you or your child when it was needed. Teachers have a demanding job, so in honor of World Teachers’ Day on Oct. 5, let’s take some time to appreciate them. Here are three ways to show your gratitude this month. Donate school supplies. Some teachers spend personal funds to purchase school supplies for their classrooms. This expense can become costly, especially if they provide for multiple students. Donate unused notebooks, pencils, pens, or other school supplies to a teacher. Some teachers even have wish lists available if you want to purchase new items for their classrooms. They will appreciate your kindness, and the children who need these supplies will also be grateful. Write thank-you letters. If you had a teacher who impacted your life, or if your child has a favorite teacher, write them a thank-you note. Handwritten notes are more meaningful than ones you buy at the store. It shows you put in time and effort to create something specifically for them. You can write about a favorite memory you had with them or the ways they’ve inspired you. If you’re feeling extra generous, add a gift card to the note! A small message can go a long way in turning someone’s day around. Volunteer when you can. In addition to teaching in the classroom, teachers need to chaperone students during field trips, recess, lunch, and standardized tests. Contact your child’s school and see when they need volunteers to help with these activities. Teachers will greatly appreciate it because they will have a chance to take a break or organize their materials for the next class. Even if it’s just for the day or a few hours, teachers will appreciate the extra assistance. Teachers play a vital role in preparing our children for the real world. They teach them vital social skills and problem-solving strategies that will assist them as they age. So, let’s take some time to show appreciation for their dedication to our children.
I Am Running for the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal
I am Judge Donald R. Johnson, and I am running for the Louisiana 1st Circuit Court of Appeal. I am also reaching out to ask for your support. I have served as judge for 29 years, first with Baton Rouge City Court (1993–1999) before beginning my tenure with the 19th Judicial District Court in 2000. During the coming weeks I will elaborate on how my experience has prepared me for the appellate court. For now, allow me to outline my judicial philosophy: Integrity and Impartiality —You either have it or you don’t. Donning the judicial robe is not going to instill integrity in someone who doesn’t have it to begin with. Our entire judicial system is built on a foundation of fair and impartial treatment before the court, and integrity is the armor that prevents the court from succumbing to external political pressure, partisan influence or personal bias. It must be non-negotiable. Knowledge of the Law — I do not expect counsel to be at all times an expert in every nuance of the law, but I do expect it of myself. As a result, my juris doctorate education at Louisiana State University never really ended, and today I hold master’s degrees in criminal justice (2006), justice management (2008) and judicial studies (2009), as well as PhDs in criminal justice administration (2014) and judicial studies (2018). Judicial Temperament — If I did not hold counsel and all court members in the highest regard, I would not have remained on the bench for almost 30 years. I draw inspiration daily from your efforts to deliver justice for your clients, and I feel a deep responsibility to provide an atmosphere of universal respect and impartiality that begins with my own humility in the face of the momentous work we do. All too frequently those of us who have dedicated our lives to delivering on our nation’s promise of justice and liberty for all are being made scapegoats for social ills not of our making. Our defense against such attacks is the same as it ever was: We shall faithfully discharge our duties and conduct ourselves at all times with integrity and civility. This is what I stand for, what I have tried to deliver as judge and what I would hope you would wish to see represented on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal.
On Election Day, Nov. 8, I ask for your support and your vote.
DathanLHill.com | 3
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
225-266-2948 www.DathanLHill.com 637 Saint Ferdinand Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
Overcoming Fears
Fast-Food Hero Taking Each Moment as It Comes Support Candidacy of Judge Donald Johnson It’s World Teachers’ Day!
3
Age Is Just a Number
4
Wanted to Legally Change His Age The Man Who Felt 20 Years Younger
He alleged that he experienced age discrimination because, being 69, he is limited in what he can do. If he were 49, he could buy a house and car and work more hours, and his chances on the dating app Tinder would improve if he were younger. What was the court’s decision? Ratelband’s argument did not convince the district court in the Dutch city of Arnhem. The court said there was no evidence that Ratelband had experienced age discrimination. It stated that, unlike legally changing your name or gender, changing your age causes many problems such as the many rights and duties related to age, such as voting, attending school, military obligations, and pension. Although Ratelband has the freedom to feel 20 years younger, mentally and physically, he cannot legally change his age because of the legal and societal implications that would follow, the court added.
We’ve all heard about people legally changing their name or gender, but have you ever heard about someone trying to change their legal age? In 2018, a 69-year-old Dutch man named Emile Ratelband petitioned a court for permission to change his age. He wanted to alter the year he was born on his birth certificate by 20 years so he could be 49 years old. So, how did this case end? Let’s find out. What was his reasoning? Ratelband wanted to change his age because he argued that he felt 20 years younger. He said his doctors told him that he had the body of a younger man, and his health was far better than most men his age.
The district court rejected Ratelband’s request, but he plans to appeal.
In the Netherlands, the public doesn’t take Ratelband’s claims seriously. They even make fun of his international exposure and willingness to provide interviews worldwide to justify his wishes. So what do you think of this legal case? Is age just a number? Let us know your thoughts!
4 | 225-266-2948
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator