Check out our February newsletter!
February 2026
NO CALENDAR REQUIRED Why Love Means More When You Share It Every Day
Feb. 14 is coming … a day when we are expected to go all- out to shower spouses, partners, and other loved ones with special Valentine’s Day outings, dates, and gifts. I cherish the people I love and the importance of expressing my warm feelings for them. But if you think I’m going to confine all that to one day on the calendar in February … you would be wrong! It’s certainly important, in faith traditions and other areas of life, to celebrate days that focus our attention on things that matter. But I sometimes feel we place so much weight on the holiday itself, and the expectations around it, that we drain the occasion of any further joy. The feelings the holiday is purported to create are crushed by our high expectations, and the actual holiday invariably fails to live up to the hype. I feel this way not only about Valentine’s Day, but about New Year’s Day, birthdays, and other days designated for celebration. Some people essentially start on Dec. 26 to look for a good gift for somebody on the next Christmas. I have a credo that if I see a gift or gesture I want to give someone, I don’t wait for their birthday or Christmas. I give it to them now and say, WORKSHOP Have you (or your clients) “been meaning” to get a plan in place? It’s easy to get started with our 7 Hazards to Your Estate Plan Workshop . This free workshop explains the key planning concepts, documents, and factors in selecting a plan that is right for you. Plus, workshop participants receive a complimentary consultation with no obligation to retain our services. The workshop is available on demand or in person, so stop thinking about a plan and create one. Register online at PromiseLaw.com/Estate-Planning-Workshop or call (757) 351-4017.
“I saw this, and it made me think of you.” You don’t know when you’re going to see people again. Life happens! I see value in doing things that don’t align with what Hallmark has told us. To me, it’s more important to think every day about the people we love and appreciate. And we don’t have to wait for February to share that. It can be even more meaningful to break up your everyday pedestrian routines and create a surprise for someone you love, of flowers, a thoughtful treat you made, or a lunch out. I think my anti-holiday philosophy opens up our lives to being more whole, so we are always looking for opportunities to express ourselves more fully, by saying or doing kind or loving things. The people we are close to need that. They need to be reminded of how you feel about them. That thoughtful gesture, that shared activity, that small gift … they are just too important to wait for Feb. 14 to come around!
So, as we enter February, I hope you too will enjoy showering those you love with tokens and expressions of your affection … on any day of the month and in any month you choose! –Geneva N. Perry, Esq.
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DIGITAL DECEPTION Secrets of the Internet’s Sneakiest Scams
The internet has become deeply intertwined with our lives, enabling us to reconnect with old friends, stay informed about the latest news, and explore new ideas. However, with the good comes the bad. Scammers have been developing new strategies to take our money, and if you’re not careful, you could become a victim. Here are three internet-enabled scams you should be aware of. Unfamiliar Emails We get emails every day, and most come from unfamiliar senders. These emails rarely contain relevant or beneficial information, but they often carry potential harm. Don’t click on links or attachments within these communications unless you expect
them. Scammers can even spoof friends’ or family members’ emails, so it’s always good to be cautious. Scam Calls Your phone number is public information, and scammers use that to their advantage. They often call seniors, claiming to be someone from their bank, cellphone provider, or another company with which they have an account. They ask for sensitive information shortly after the call begins. Never give it to them. The real organizations rarely call, and if they do, they will not ask for sensitive information. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the supposed organization directly to verify its authenticity.
Shared Networks When you enter a business, you may feel compelled to join its public Wi- Fi. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this practice, you do not want to use public Wi-Fi to log into and view your bank account, medical information, or social media accounts. Scammers wait on public networks to intercept passwords. Shared networks are not as safe as they may appear.
The Cure for Burnout Isn’t Always a Vacation
We live in a hustle culture, where we’re encouraged to push ourselves to our limits: accomplish everything at work, get the kids ready for school and extracurricular activities, and take care of all of our other needs and responsibilities. These unending demands inevitably lead to burnout, which causes us to feel like we need a vacation. But wouldn’t it be nice if you enjoyed your life so much that you didn’t need to escape? Adjusting your habits, routine, and schedule can make this possible. It starts with your workday.
For many Americans, work is the greatest source of stress and burnout in their lives, but it doesn’t have to be. You can change that by adding practices that make your workday more enjoyable. Depending on what your workplace allows, you might try things like taking regular breaks, listening to music you enjoy, walking throughout the day, and putting work out of your mind when you leave for the day. When we get caught up in the chaos of everyday life, we often lose sight of what truly matters. Staying present in the moment and focusing on all the good things in life can help turn any sour experience into something sweet. Focus on all your blessings, from your home to your loved ones. Lastly, be sure to practice self-care and make time for the things you enjoy. Spend time with the people you love, participate in your favorite hobbies and activities, take a nature walk, and add elements to your home that inspire happiness. If you feel like it’s time for a vacation, you may need more than just a change of scenery!
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TAKE A BREAK
If you’ve ever lived through or seen the aftermath of a flood, you know how destructive they can be. Within moments, the rush of water can uproot and displace buildings, trees, and vehicles, making the situation incredibly dangerous for everyone in the area. Now, imagine if the flood consisted of a thicker, stickier substance than water. If you don’t have a strong imagination, don’t worry. This situation actually happened on Jan. 15, 1919. On that fateful morning, a massive steel holding tank filled with molasses stood on Commercial Street in Boston. The U.S. Industrial Alcohol Company built the tank during World War I, and many believed the construction was haphazardly rushed. It was common for those living and commuting on Commercial Street to hear the tank groan and creek. Around 12:40 p.m., the tank ruptured, releasing over 2 million gallons of molasses into the surrounding area. The molasses instantly swallowed up three young children who were by the fractured tank. One suffocated, another died after being struck by a railroad car, and the third suffered severe injuries from hitting a light post. Another local awoke to his house crumbling around him, causing him to scramble to his bed frame to stay afloat. Police officers, firefighters, and even sailors from the USS Nantucket responded to the event almost immediately. They freed some survivors, but it took days to uncover the extent of the damage. Twenty-one people lost their lives, while another 150 suffered injuries. The victims and their families sued United States Industrial Alcohol, which had to pay $628,000 in damages, only $8 million in today’s money. THE DAY BOSTON DROWNED IN MOLASSES A Sticky Situation
Dream Equality Festival Groundhog Hearts King Lincoln Muffin Pancake Rabbit Roses
Mouthwatering Mini Cheesecakes
• 12 oz package vanilla wafers • 16 oz cream cheese, softened • 3/4 cup white sugar • 2 large eggs Ingredients
• 1 tsp vanilla extract • 21 oz can cherry pie filling
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In two 24-cup miniature muffin pans, line each space with a paper liner. 3. Using a food processor or resealable plastic bag, crush vanilla wafers into a fine crumb. 4. Press 1/2 teaspoon of crumbs into each paper liner. 5. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. 6. Fill each miniature muffin liner with this mixture, almost to the top. 7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cheesecakes are set. 8. Cool completely in the pan. 9. Top each mini cheesecake with about a teaspoon of cherry pie filling before serving. Enjoy!
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
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PromiseLaw Life happens. Plan on it. ™ (757) 351-4017 600 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Ste. 350 Newport News, VA 23606
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Why Wait for Valentine’s Day? Say ‘I Love You’ Anytime!
1
Protect Yourself in the Digital Age
2
Design a Life You Don’t Need a Break From
3
Mouthwatering Mini Cheesecakes
A City Submerged in Sweetness
The Reason Behind Fashion’s Most Infuriating Design Flaw
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WHERE ARE THE POCKETS? A CLOTHING MYSTERY CENTURIES IN THE MAKING
Some design choices for clothing can leave you scratching your head, wondering why certain decisions were made. You’ve probably noticed that many pieces of women’s wear do not have pockets, and when they do, they’re considerably smaller than those in men’s clothing. Let’s dive deeper into how this came to be. Where are the pockets? To understand the dilemma with pockets in women’s clothing, one must go back to the late 1600s. At that time, women’s fashion consisted of long, bulky, flowing dresses. They had no built-in pockets, so women wore belts with attached pockets under their skirts that remained invisible to passersby.
period in the 18th century when large pockets were sewn directly into women’s clothing, but that trend didn’t last long. Eventually, someone (probably a man) determined that pockets ruined the female silhouette, and they effectively disappeared from women’s garments. To the dismay of many women nationwide, big pockets (or any pockets) have remained incredibly rare on women’s clothing. What about the tiny pocket?
Men’s and women’s jeans both commonly have a small pocket within one of the front pockets. While you may keep spare change in it or a golf tee when out on the course, you may have wondered what the initial purpose was. When Levi Strauss & Co. first designed their iconic denim pants in the 1870s, they intentionally added an extra pocket to accommodate pocket watches. Even as pocket watches faded into obscurity, the pocket remained.
As fashion evolved and purses became popular, the need for discreet storage waned, and dresses became smaller. There was a brief
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