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MARCH 2025
From Mud to Bloom HOW OPTIMISM TRANSFORMS STRUGGLES INTO STRENGTH
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” –Helen Keller
But that’s exactly when optimism matters most. You don’t get to a good outcome by giving in to frustration. You get there by staying focused on what’s possible. Yes, it’s a process. Yes, it takes time. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it. The mud is there but so is the lotus.
March is Optimism Month, and I love that — probably to the point of being a little obnoxious about it. But hey, if there’s something worth over-celebrating, it’s the idea that good things are always possible. That being said, optimism can sometimes be a delicate balance. If not handled carefully, it can come across as dismissive, like you’re glossing over real struggles just to put a sunny spin on things. That isn’t optimism. True optimism isn’t about ignoring the tough stuff; it’s about recognizing challenges and still choosing to believe in a better outcome. It’s about seeing the mud but focusing on the lotus flower that can grow from it. That’s a concept Tony Robbins (yes, I’ll proudly admit I’m a fan) talks about often. What you focus on becomes your reality. If you constantly dwell on what’s wrong, that negativity becomes your world. But if you focus on what’s possible, you see more opportunities, solutions, and paths forward. I love the metaphor of the lotus flower. It blooms beautifully, but only because it grows out of the mud. The struggle is part of the process. The beautiful lotus doesn’t grow without the mud. That’s the idea of optimism. It's not pretending the mud doesn’t exist; it’s knowing something beautiful can still come from it. And let’s be real: Life has its fair share of mud. Everyone goes through tough times, and for my clients, those tough times are often some of the lowest points in their lives. Injuries, financial stress, legal battles — it’s exhausting. And on top of everything, they have to deal with an opposing side that seems determined to wear them down. That’s where litigation fatigue sets in, and I see it all the time. Clients start thinking, "I just can’t do this anymore. Let’s just settle and get it over with." And I get it. When you’re stuck in a long, draining process, it’s easy to want to give up.
This applies to more than just legal battles — it applies to everything in life. We all face setbacks, disappointments, and challenges. And while it’s important to acknowledge the hard stuff, you don’t want to live in it. If you stay in the mud too long, you get stuck. Optimism is what helps you climb out and move forward. So, if you’re going through something tough right now, remind yourself you’re in the middle of the process, not the end. The mud isn’t forever. The challenge isn’t permanent. And if you keep moving forward, you’ll eventually see the lotus bloom.
–Case Barnett
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Is there really such a thing as “organized chaos”? It depends on whom you ask! If you thrive in clutter, this article isn’t for you. Creating an organized space is simply a matter of ensuring household items have a place to be stored — and not in the one drawer filled with everything from ketchup packets and paper clips to a random Cheeto! Whether you’re preparing for house guests or diving into a spring- cleaning marathon, these organizing tips will bless your cluttered mess! Tension Rods for Shoe Storage Need more shoe space? Not a problem — just grab a few tension rods! If you have two sturdy objects — dressers, a wall and nightstand, etc. — you can place two tension rods between them and create a “shelf” to place your shoes on. Add multiple rows of tension rods for extra storage. Clothes Pins for Cabinet Door Storage Kitchen cleaning supplies, especially lightweight items, don’t always have to be placed on the floor inside the under-sink cabinet. Putting double-sided tape onto clothes pins and sticking them inside the cabinet doors creates an excellent place to hang rags/sponges, kitchen gloves, and sink stoppers. Napkin Holders for Pot Lids Using zip ties and upright wire napkin holders, you can create a lid organizer for your pots and pans. Rather than flipping the lid upside Get It Together! DIY Organization Tips to Bring Order to Your Living Spaces
down on top of the pot, you can create a designated space for all the lids to reside. You can even organize your lids from smallest to largest! Pool Noodles as Hanger Spacers Between Clothes Pool noodles work as spacers to keep your clothes hanging neatly. Just take a pool noodle and make one cut length-wise to open the noodle, and then cut it horizontally into 1-inch pieces. Place the pieces on the bar in your closet and hang your clothes according to how many hangers you want between each spacer! Honeycomb Organizer for Socks and Undergarments Drawers that house undergarments and socks tend to get disorganized quickly. Honeycomb organizers are the perfect addition to ensure all items fit in the drawer, making it easier to grab what you need. These organizers are also adjustable, so they’ll fit any drawer size!
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING “WOW! Case Barnett and his team are AWESOME. Especially Dena. We can’t thank them enough for all their hard work. About a year ago, my dad got into a really bad accident that cost his life. We were devastated, stressed out, and overwhelmed. No one wants to get into an accident and deal with the aftermath. We are so grateful to have met Case and Dena because their team made this entire process so seamless and easy for us. Every time we were on the phone with Dena and Case, we noticed how much they truly cared about their clients. We felt a huge relief when they handled all the things related to the accident, but most importantly, dealing with the other person’s insurance. Dena handled all the correspondence with the other party, relieving us of the messy conversations. Case Barnett, Dena, and their team are great communicators. I’m sure a lot happened behind closed doors, and they like to keep you out of it as much as possible, but if we ever had questions, they were very quick to respond. They also kept us informed about the case as the months passed by. We are thankful for Case Barnett, Dena, and their awesome team. We finally came to a settlement, and we are pleased with the outcome after a year. For anyone looking for a personal lawyer, call Case Barnett and his team. You will be well taken care of.” –Joseph D.
This publication is intended to educate the general public about personal injury and elder abuse. It is not intended to be legal advice. Every case is different.
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‘CHEESY’ CASHEW QUESO Inspired by GoodHousekeeping.com
Ingredients
• 2 large poblano peppers, halved and seeded • 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 cloves garlic, pressed • 1 cup cashews
Bad things happen — there’s no way around it. Accidents, injuries, and unfair situations are an unfortunate part of life. But when they occur, how do we restore balance? How do we help someone move forward after they’ve lost something they can never fully get back? In an ideal world, justice would mean turning back time and making things right. If someone is injured, we erase the injury. If a loved one is lost due to negligence, we bring them back. That would be perfect justice. But we don’t live in a world where that’s possible. Instead, our justice system does what it can — it provides money justice. I get it. The phrase money justice doesn’t exactly sound inspiring. It’s an imperfect system, but it’s the best we’ve got. Thousands of years ago, justice was more about an eye for an eye. Today, we’re more civilized. We can’t undo the harm, but we can provide financial compensation to acknowledge the loss, help someone rebuild, and restore balance in an unfair situation. However, one of the biggest misconceptions is that filing a lawsuit is something to feel guilty about. I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard a new client say, “I’m not the type of person to sue.” And every time, I want to tell them that’s exactly what the insurance industry wants you to believe. Here’s the truth: If someone’s negligence has harmed you or someone you love, you should be able to seek justice. You should be able to regain some of what was taken from you. Holding people and companies accountable isn’t being “sue- happy” — it’s ensuring fairness still exists in an imperfect world. So, when something tragic happens, think about this: Is there a way to rebalance the scales? Is there an opportunity to restore some sense of fairness? Justice isn’t about revenge. It’s about ensuring someone has a path forward when they are wronged. And at the end of the day, that’s not something to feel bad about; it’s something to stand up for. But It Can Help You Rebuild JUSTICE CAN’T UNDO HARM
• 2 tsp chili powder • 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp pepper • 2 cups water, divided • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
Directions
1. Heat broiler. Add poblanos face down to a rimmed baking sheet and broil for 4 minutes or until charred. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes. Then, remove skin and cut into 1/4-inch pieces. 2. In a saucepan, heat oil and garlic on medium heat for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in cashews and spices. 3. Return saucepan to heat. Add 1 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10–12 minutes or until cashews are tender. 4. Put contents of saucepan in a blender and add yeast and 1/2 cup of water. Purée until smooth. 5. Pour mixture back into saucepan and simmer 7 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. 6. Fold in poblanos and serve with chips.
LAUGH LAWS
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Page 1 A Lotus Flower Mindset
Page 2 Decluttering Hacks Made Easy
What Our Clients Are Saying
Page 3 Justice, Balance, and Misconceptions About Lawsuits
‘Cheesy’ Cashew Queso
Page 4 Rigging the Coin Toss
WITH THE FLIP OF A COIN Our Favorite Decision-Making Tool May Not Be as Fair as We Think
“Movies or bowling?” “Pizza or burgers?” Long before Rock, Paper, Scissors and Magic 8 Balls helped us make major life decisions, people dating all the way back to the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages were flipping coins to make hard choices or gamble. Coin Toss Origins The Romans used coin tossing to settle personal disputes, calling it “heads or ships.” The coins depicted Janus, the two-faced Roman god of doorways and change, on one side and the prow of a ship on the other side. In the Middle Ages, they called coin tossing “cross and pile,” a game of chance among children. What we know as “heads” was the cross, and “tails” was the pile. The Purpose of Flipping a Coin In theory, when people need to make a decision between two equally viable options, and they can’t reach a decision, tossing a coin is usually the “fair” way to decide — or is it? A 2023 study by the University of Amsterdam sheds light on how the time-honored decision-making tool may not be as unbiased as we think. The ‘Randomness’ of a Coin Toss The study flipped more than 350,000 coins across 46 different currencies and found that a flipped coin returned to its starting position 50.8% of the time. So, if a coin starts at tails, it will likely
land on tails. This test was based on a 2004 theory that argued coin tosses land as they start 51% of the time. What’s more alarming is that a 2009 study revealed that coin tosses are easily manipulated. How is that possible if coin tosses are supposed to be random? The study showed that with a few minutes of practice, the tosses could be manipulated with sleight-of-hand to land in favor of whoever makes the toss. Choose Your Tossers Wisely While debate continues over the fairness of a coin toss, there’s not enough evidence to sway arguing siblings or the NFL to shy away from continuing the tradition. But if you ever find yourself in a coin toss situation with someone, it might be wise to choose a neutral party to flip the coin for you!
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