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10/23
THE MOTTLEY CREW REVIEW
www.MottleyLawFirm.com | (804) 823-2011
MY TOP 3 COFFEE SHOPS IN RICHMOND
PLUS, 2 TIPS FOR MANAGING YOUR CAFFEINE ADDICTION
Black Hand Coffee Co. (BlackHandCoffeeCo.com) — Black Hand is a third- wave coffee shop downtown that makes seriously good joe. They roast their own beans, so if you like to know where your coffee comes from, this is the spot for you.
I have two long-term loves in my life: my wife, Tricia, and black coffee. I typically drink 3–5 cups every morning, starting with drip coffee from my home machine and moving on to Keurig cups at the office. If you look through The Mottley Law Firm’s window between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., odds are you’ll see me or my paralegal, Danielle, at the machine getting our fix. It’s starting to get dreary outside, so caffeine is more necessary now than ever. If you enjoy coffee as much as I do, I highly recommend checking out my favorite coffee shops. I used to be a Starbucks man, but I’d rather support locally owned businesses — and these never let me down. Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream (CrossroadsRVA.com) — I don’t make it to Crossroads often because it’s on the south side of Richmond, but it’s my go-to spot on a pretty Saturday morning. The coffee is excellent, and the breakfast menu is even better. If you try Crossroads, be prepared to wait — there will be a line. Caffespresso (CaffespressoHVA.com) — I’m a regular at Caffespresso on Gaskins Road, and I always order their plain black coffee. It’s an excellent spot for any espresso drink you can imagine, and you can grab a bagel, panini, or pizza if you’re hungry. Caffespresso even serves wine! On Thursday nights, they stay open late and host a 4-8 p.m. Happy Hour.
I hope you stop at one of these shops for a cup… or two… or three!
Speaking of multiple cups, you’ve probably noticed that scientists flip-flop every few months on how much coffee we should drink and whether it’s good for us. Luckily, most of the literature I’ve seen supports the health benefits of imbibing — as long as you drink it black. The medical professionals at Johns Hopkins claim drinking coffee protects against heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and strokes! Coffee also keeps your liver healthy and lowers your overall risk of cancer. As Johns Hopkins explains, “Dark roast coffee decreases breakage in DNA strands, which occur naturally but can lead to cancer or tumors if not repaired by your cells.” Fascinating, right? That said, I have a few rules to control my coffee drinking. I avoid coffee for the first 30 minutes of the day because drinking it too soon can increase my cortisol (a stress hormone), causing jitters and worsening my impending caffeine crash. Luckily, it’s easy to fill those 30 minutes by reading a book, taking the dog out, or unloading the dishwasher. I also cut myself off from the Keurig at 11 a.m. When I consume coffee in the afternoon, I’m up until 3 a.m. tossing and turning! If I feel sleepy in the afternoon, I use a method more effective than a cup of coffee: I get up from my desk, put my back against the wall, and sink into a squat. Then, I raise my arms above my head, hold them in prayer pose, or stretch them straight out, and count to 60. Holding myself in the position is challenging and always energizes me. If you’re recovering from an injury and can’t squat, try doing the same exercise without squatting or try simply standing up and walking around. When you get your heart rate going, you’ll feel refreshed — no caffeine required. Let me know if it works for you!
–Kevin Mottley
www.MottleyLawFirm.com | 1
SMALL JOYS, BIG DIFFERENCE: OVERCOMING DEPRESSION
In the U.S., 21 million people report having at least one major depressive episode, while 17.3 million adults live with major depressive disorders. When someone feels depressed, there isn’t much anyone can do to help them. However, someone suffering from depression can do a few things to help ease their symptoms. No. 1: Be gentle with yourself. When you feel depressed, you’re not going to accomplish the same number of tasks or be as productive as you usually would — and that’s okay! Be open and accepting of your current state, and take pride in your progress that day, no matter how small. No. 2: Take a walk — literally! Research shows that for some people, even a little bit of exercise (like a short walk) not only reduces their current symptoms but can also prevent future depressive episodes. Even if you can only walk around the block, it will still help your mind and body. No. 3: Do things YOU enjoy. The fatigue that depression brings can feel more powerful than your desire to enjoy your hobbies. Push back against this as much as possible and do something enjoyable, even if it seems minor. This will boost your mood and motivate you to continue engaging in activities.
THIS DRAMATIC HEIST FILM IS WORTH THE REWATCH!
Whenever our team sees a movie featuring a traumatic brain injury (TBI), we can’t tear ourselves away from the screen. After representing so many clients with TBIs, seeing similar stories in Hollywood is fascinating — and “The Lookout,” a heist film starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is an excellent one! “The Lookout” tells the story of a hockey player named Chris. He’s wealthy and popular — until a devastating car crash turns his life upside down. Chris survives the wreck, but the impact leaves him with a brain injury that triggers anterograde amnesia, anger management problems, depression, issues with sequencing events (things like trying to make coffee without grinding the coffee beans), and a host of other symptoms. Chris ends up working as a small-town bank janitor — and before long, an old high school classmate ropes him into a bank heist!
“The Lookout” is dramatic, action-packed, and full of jaw-dropping twists. We won’t give away the ending, but we can share one of our favorite parts of the movie: Joseph Gordon- Levitt’s acting. According to Hollywood lore, Gordon-Levitt put a lot of effort into portraying Chris accurately. He sought out people with TBIs, asked them about their experience, and even read “The Man with a Shattered World: The History of a Brain Wound” by Alexander Luria. That commitment showed. In the movie, Chris is constantly writing down things he doesn’t want to forget — which lines up with anterograde amnesia, a condition that keeps people who have it from forming new memories. Journaling and note-taking are two of the most common strategies people use in real life to manage anterograde amnesia, and it was nice to see that represented in the film.
Overall, “The Lookout” wasn’t perfect at portraying anterograde amnesia, but it did include a lot of accurate TBI symptoms. It’s definitely worth watching (or rewatching)! “The Lookout” is also a good reminder of how serious TBIs can be. If you know someone struggling with a TBI after a car crash or workplace injury, send them to our firm. We can assess whether they have a case and, if they do, help them secure the compensation they need to manage their symptoms.
2 | (804) 823-2011
SUDOKU
SOLUTION
The Mottley Crew Stormed the Big Apple!
Summer Adventures in New York City
JALAPEÑO POPPER MAC AND CHEESE
My older daughter, Sarah Ann, flew to New York City this summer to work for a top-secret architecture firm. It was an exciting internship opportunity for her — and I couldn’t resist visiting! In the first week of August, Tricia and I traveled to the Big Apple. Our younger daughter, Catherine, stayed home to spend time at the river with friends, but our son Andrew’s girlfriend flew up from Atlanta to be with us. We heard about Sarah Ann’s internship (well, as much as she could tell us — the company’s celebrity clients are top secret) and celebrated Andrew’s birthday. Before we left, we managed to squeeze in a Yankees game. It was a perfect day in Yankee Stadium when we sat down to watch our favorite team face off against the Houston Astros. The Yankees won (of course), and at one point, they hit a home run into the row right in front of us! We were only a few feet from snagging it. Next time, I’ll pick seats closer to the field, just in case.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 sticks butter, divided • 1/3 cup flour • 5 cups milk • 8 oz cream cheese • 3 cups shredded white cheddar cheese, divided • 4 cups shredded pepper jack cheese, divided
• 2 tsp salt • 2 tsp garlic powder • 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 lb bacon, chopped and cooked • 8 jalapeños, seeded and chopped • 1 lb macaroni, cooked • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a large saucepan, melt 1 stick butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until fully absorbed in butter. Whisk in milk slowly. 3. Once sauce thickens, stir in cream cheese and shredded cheese until melted, reserving 1 cup of each shredded cheese. Add seasonings, bacon, and jalapeños before removing from heat, then combine pasta and sauce. 4. In a small skillet, melt remaining butter and stir in panko. 5. In a greased baking dish or skillet, add macaroni and top with panko and remaining cheese. Bake for 30–40 minutes and serve warm.
I hope you enjoy these photos from the trip!
–Kevin Mottley
Inspired by TheModernProper.com
www.MottleyLawFirm.com | 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
8001 Franklin Farms Drive, Suite 125 Richmond, Virginia 23229
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
www.MottleyLawFirm.com | (804) 823-2011
1
Kevin Spills His Top Coffee Shops
2
Walking Toward Happiness: Depression’s Antidote
TBI in the Movies: ‘The Lookout’
3
Kevin’s Adventures in New York Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese
4
Full Brain Activation: The Real Story Unveiled
MIND OVER MYTH: THE TRUTH BEHIND OUR BRAIN POWER
You’ve probably watched some action-packed movie where the premise relies entirely on the belief that we only use 10% of our brains. The protagonist somehow “unlocks” their full brain potential and gains superhuman abilities. While movies like “Lucy” and “Limitless” are
at all times. Yes, even when we sleep! Individuals with degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease still use more than 10% of their brains. Our evolutionary process also would have ensured the useless 90% of our brains would go away through natural selection if this myth were true. When it comes to brain activity, each part of our brain has a function.
undoubtedly entertaining, the concept that we only utilize 10% of our brains is entirely false. Despite this widespread belief being entirely inaccurate, many believe it to be a valid scientific finding. In fact, one survey found that 65% of Americans believe in the 10% theory. Even more frightening is the study that revealed nearly 50% of primary and secondary school teachers in many countries believe this myth. So, how much of our brains do we really use? Understand the truth about our brain power. With the help of modern technology such as PET (positron emission tomography) scans and fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), we can clearly see that humans use all of their brains
Where did the 10% myth come from? Despite being a common misbelief, the exact source of this myth is unclear. Many threads lead back to various archaic medical findings that were either misconstrued or outdated and inaccurate. It’s plausible that pseudoscientists, psychics, and self-help gurus falsely perpetuated the 10% myth to sell the desire to “unlock our full potential.” So, the next time you hear someone mention we only use 10% of our brains, you can dispute that myth with abundant and trustworthy scientific sources to back you up.
4 | (804) 823-2011
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