The Moak Law Firm April 2019

The 80/20 Rule

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Reduce Stress and Focus on the Big Things

D id you know April is Stress think anyone needs to be made aware that stress exists. At the firm, we work with clients who are often really stressed out — for good reason. Filing for bankruptcy or being in the middle of a personal injury case comes with a great deal of stress. As an attorney, I’ve had to learn how to deal with plenty of stress, and I’m always willing to share my strategies for stress management. I’ve found I tend to use humor to alleviate stress. Making a joke or finding a reason to laugh doesn’t make someone’s situation less serious, but it can really break the tension. A good laugh can also help you see your situation from a brighter point of view. If I can help my client find a little relief with a laugh, they usually feel a lot better when they leave my office. That said, we can’t laugh our problems away. Real stress management comes from having a plan to address the things that stress us out. Clients come to me because, as a lawyer, it’s my job to help them make a plan to get out of whatever stressful situation they’re in. Thanks to the law and courts, I’m able to take a heavy burden off my clients’ shoulders by settling a personal injury case or wiping their debt away. In my personal life, I use lists for stress management. Making a list is the top result on almost every internet article about stress management, and that’s because it works! When you write down everything you have to do, you’ll usually find that 80 percent of what’s stressing you out is only 20 percent of what you need to get done. This comes from the Pareto principle, also called the 80/20 rule. What’s great about the 80/20 rule is that it proves you don’t need to do everything on your list to feel less stressed — you just need to tackle those few things that stress you out the most. Awareness Month? It sounds a little unnecessary since I don’t

“... 80 percent of what’s stressing you out is only 20 percent of what you need to get done.”

The 80/20 rule reminds me of a story from Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Imagine if you take a jar and fill it to the brim with water and sand, but then you have to put three big rocks into the jar. What happens? The water and sand spill out because there’s no room for the rocks! But if you put the big rocks in first, you can fill the spaces in between with water and sand. Everything fits. Dr. Covey’s story isn’t just a tip for collecting great souvenirs at the beach. It’s a reminder that when we’re making our lists, we need to prioritize the important things first. The big rocks represent the important things in our lives, like our health, family, and spiritual growth. Those are what make life worthwhile. When we put a real effort into those areas, the other mundane things — the water and sand in the jar — feel less overwhelming. When it comes to stress management, the key is to put the advice into practice. That’s the hard part, I know, but when we don’t invest time into the big things, we’ll spend every day running around putting out fires. Here’s my advice: Tonight, make a list of everything you need to do tomorrow, with the big things at the top of the list. Then commit to getting at least 20 percent of your list done every day. If you can manage that, you might find 80 percent of your stress disappears.

–Walter E. “Pete” Moak

April 2019

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Dancing to Bring the Rain The History and Cultural Significance of Native American Rain Dances

While traditions and dances vary between Native American tribes, many of them feature rain dances. Because water is essential to life, and because many tribes lived in agrarian societies, these dances were important rituals, pleas for the survival of the tribe for another season. These dances have existed for hundreds of years, and many tribes still perform them today. means water is scarce and every bit of rainfall is essential for survival. Generally, rain dances are performed to ask the spirits or gods to send rain for the crops. Tribes such as the Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo, and Mojave perform rain dances often. An old Cherokee legend says that the rain is filled with the spirits of past chiefs, and the rain is an indication of their battle with evil spirits beyond the natural world. One interesting fact about rain dances is that both men and women — not just men — participate in the ceremony. Rain dances are notably common in the Southwestern U.S., where the dry climate Until the day we’re all using “Star Trek”-style teleporters, we will have to deal with car accidents. Here’s a checklist to help you protect yourself and your case after a car accident. 1. Stop your car and don’t leave the scene of the accident. Running away from an accident will only make the situation worse. 2. Make sure everyone involved in the accident is okay. If anyone in your car or the other car(s) is in need of immediate help, direct a specific person to call 911. 3. Call the police and wait. We’ve seen countless cases where one driver claims they’re in a hurry, writes down their information, and then leaves the scene, or they may claim that calling the police isn’t necessary. You want a police report for your case, so insist that all parties wait for the police to arrive.

Dancers wear special regalia, sometimes including headdresses, masks, body paints, and jewelry. What is worn varies from tribe to tribe, but turquoise is very important in rain dances for many tribes and is often incorporated into the jewelry. The rain dance regalia is not worn at any other point or for any other purpose during the year, and participants dance in a zigzag pattern, unlike all other dances, which feature a circular motion. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, when the U.S. government was relocating Native Americans all over the country, they banned the practice of many ceremonial dances on reservations, sometimes including rain dances. However, rain dances continued undercover: Native Americans simply performed the ritual as a different, unbanned ceremony. The dances and the traditions continued, and today many tribes still perform rain dances, even if only in reverence for their heritage. 4. Protect the scene. If you can put out road flares around the accident, do so. If you need to move the cars, record the state of the accident first. Use your phone to take pictures of the position of both cars, damage to the vehicles, and any debris on the road. 5. Get accurate information from the other drivers. Don’t let any other drivers leave before you get their: • Name • Driver’s license number • Insurance information • Contact number • Information about their car 6. Don’t make any admissions to the other driver. Even if you think you might be at-fault, you don’t know the whole story. Don’t say something that can be used against you later. 7. Report the accident to your insurance company. It’s no fun to call your insurance company, but you don’t want to let any time pass after an accident before you take action.

Car Accident Checklist 9 Steps to Protect Yourself After an Accident

8. Seek appropriate medical attention. Even if you don’t feel hurt, it’s smart to get checked out by your doctor or chiropractor after an accident. Some injuries take time to become apparent. 9. Call The Moak Law Firm at 480-755- 8000. Get an experienced car accident attorney on your side so you can enjoy the best possible outcome after an accident. During the stress of an accident, it’s still easy to forget an important step to help your case, even if everyone walks away unharmed. Cut out this list and store it in your glove compartment so if you ever need to act fast after an accident, you’ll be ready.

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How to Rebuild After Bankruptcy: Part 3

If you’ve been following along with our monthly tips for rebuilding your credit, odds are you have bad credit or no credit yourself. There’s no need to feel ashamed because you’re not alone. Around 43 million Americans are burdened with bad credit, which is a score of 599 or less. A person’s credit can drop for any number of reasons, but fortunately, there are a number of strategies for improving your score. Last month, we looked at the numbers that make up your credit score. You may remember that having access to a number of different high-lending credit cards really improves a credit score. But if your credit isn’t great, you might be struggling to get approved for any credit cards. This is where secured credit cards are a big help. Secured credit cards require a cash deposit equal to your credit limit to open the account. For example, if you deposit $500, your credit card limit is $500. The deposit reduces the risk to the lender, which is why secured credit cards are ideal for those with bad or no credit. With a secured credit card, you are able to get back into the credit game and build good credit.

Because the limits on secured credit cards tend to be on the lower end, they’re best used for groceries or filling your car with gas. Remember, maintaining a low credit use ratio is ideal for improving your credit score. Over time, if you use the card responsibly, you can transition to an unsecured card, which is even better for building a high credit score. Using a secured credit card to build your credit to qualify for unsecured cards isn’t an overnight fix. They’re meant to prove your track record, which means you might have to use them for 12–24 months before your credit really starts to improve, which is the case for all sustainable credit-building strategies. Improving your credit score means playing the long game, but if you put in the time, you can see great results. Interested in learning more about secured credit cards? Visit CreditCards.com/secured/ today to research available secured credits cards and find the ones that are right for you.

Secured Credit Cards Safely Build Credit

Roasted Radishes With Radish Greens

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Directions:

1. Heat oven to 500 F. While heating, trim radishes and wash greens. Pat both dry using a paper towel. 2. In a large ovenproof skillet, heat oil over high heat until shimmering. Season radishes with salt and pepper, add to skillet, and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Transfer entire skillet to oven rack and roast for 15 minutes. 3. Once removed from oven, return skillet to stove. Over medium heat, stir in butter and add greens. Cook until they are wilted, about 2 minutes. 4. Finish with lemon juice and additional salt if desired. Serve immediately.

Radishes start showing up in droves during the spring and summer months, but all too often we only eat the bulbs raw on salads and discard the greens. This recipes bucks both of those trends, with the radishes being roasted alongside their green tops.

Ingredients:

RAINBOW EASTER PRANK PASSOVER FOOL

SHOWERS TAURUS HOAX SPRING BUTTERFLY

DANDELION MISCHIEF

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3 bunches radishes with greens attached 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

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INSIDE This Issue

The Trick for 80 Percent Less Stress

The Importance of Rain to the Survival of Cultures Here’s What You MUST Do After an Accident Play the Long Game with Secured Credit Cards Roasted Radishes With Radish Greens

Never Judge a Dog by Her Size

Considering the stress of combat, it’s no wonder military dogs tend to be tough breeds known for their size and strength. German shepherds, boxers, and various bully breeds are well-acquainted with the battlefield. But in World War II, the most famous military dog weighed only 4 pounds and stood a mere 7 inches tall. Smoky the Yorkshire Terrier wasn’t exactly what most people associated with Shakespeare’s “let slip the dogs of war,” but her small size is part of what made her such a hero. In 1944, after being discovered beside a foxhole in the jungles of New Guinea, Smoky met Corporal William A. Wynne, an American soldier from Cleveland, Ohio. The two quickly became inseparable, and she stayed by Wynne’s side the entire time he was stationed in the South Pacific. Smoky is credited with going on 12 combat missions, surviving 150 air raids, parachuting 30 feet, and earning eight battle stars. Smoky’s

sensitive hearing allowed her to alert Wynne and other soldiers of incoming air raids. Smoky’s most famous act of heroism occurred when she went where no man could go at an air base at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. The engineers needed help, so Wynne tied a strand of telephone wire to her collar and Smoky ran through a 70-foot-long pipe in a matter of minutes. Without Smoky, it would have taken three days to lay the wire. Her work kept

over 250 ground crewmen and 40 fighter and reconnaissance planes out of danger from enemy bombings. In addition to saving lives on the battlefield, Smoky is also considered to be the first recorded therapy dog. She learned a number of tricks to cheer up troops and would visit injured soldiers at the hospital in New Guinea. After World War II, Smoky and Wynne visited veteran hospitals across the United States. “Corporal” Smoky lived for another 10 years after the war before dying on Feb. 21, 1957, at approximately 14 years old. Wynne would go on to write a memoir about his time with Smoky titled “Yorkie Doodle Dandy.” Almost 50 years after her death, a life-sized bronze statue of Smoky was erected at her final resting place in Lakewood, Ohio. Her statue is dedicated to the bravery of all war dogs, and it is a reminder that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

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