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VanDyckLawGroup
QUARTER 1, 2023
VANDYCKFIRM.COM
In Everything We Do Leading With Kindness
Since we first opened our doors, our firm’s motto has been to lead with kindness. This isn’t something we just say; we lead with kindness in every interaction we have with our clients, each other, and community members. Kindness has the power to change someone’s day for the better, and each of us has the potential to be more kind in every interaction we experience. It’s often very stressful and difficult for clients to come into our office. Even when people are healthy, it can be a stressful visit because we’re going to talk about some sensitive topics that most people don’t think about regularly. Not many people want to think about being hit by the Amazon Prime truck and becoming incapacitated or worse. These are hard things to imagine, let alone discuss. That’s why we put kindness at the forefront of everything we do. When people commit to coming in to speak with us, we want to do everything we can to ensure they feel taken care of and heard. Most people are not coming to us because they are ready to handle the necessary estate planning documents. They’re often facing a difficult situation, whether they’re dealing with something in the elder law world or they received a difficult diagnosis recently. When they come into the office stressed, they may appear to be angry about the hand they’ve been dealt. It can be easy to mirror their attitude and emotions, but we never do. We always meet them with compassion. It’s important to meet people with kindness in every interaction, even if they don’t return the favor. You never truly know what people are going through; sometimes, they can be angry or stressed about their situation. When you meet these people with genuine kindness, you can
change the energy in the room. It can make a huge difference in their life. We always try to understand what our clients are facing so we can stand behind them and provide the necessary support. Whenever I think about the power of kindness, I’m always reminded of a story I read in the newspaper. A gentleman was standing on the Golden Gate Bridge contemplating whether he should take his life. Someone was walking along the bridge and noticed this man. They took a few moments out of their day to extend words of kindness to the man, causing him to step down from the bridge and walk away. When you lead with kindness, it can have far-reaching effects on others’ lives. Some of us may be unable to approach every situation with kindness because we’re dealing with our own challenging battles. In these moments, I’ve found that keeping gratitude at the top of my mind can relieve stress, anxiety, and even anger. We have a book called “The Magic of Gratitude” that we give to clients who are going through a challenging time. Thinking about what you’re grateful for can flip your perspective and inspire you to turn things around. If you’re interested in receiving a copy of “The Magic of Gratitude,” reach out to us today. We could all use a little more kindness in today’s society. When you approach every situation with compassion, you’ll quickly notice improvements in your happiness while making others feel better. -Fiona Van Dyck
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Thought Back on Track
A Surprising Fix for Aches and Pains
The Solution Could Be in Your Kitchen
1. Cut out sugary drinks. Skip energy drinks, soda, juice, and sweet tea in favor of water or unsweetened beverages. Taking this step may also drop your body fat percentage — a win-win for pain reduction. 2. Choose complex carbs over processed carbs. If white rice, pasta, and white bread are a regular part of your diet, swap them out for whole grains, sweet potatoes, beans, and lentils to bring your blood sugar down. 3. Pair up your carbs. Megan Asterino-McGeean, a nurse and diabetes educator, told Cleveland Clinic that all carbs “need a chaperone.” She recommends pairing them with leafy greens and lean proteins like chicken, turkey, white fish, beans, peas, or lentils. You can try switching up your diet on your own, but if you have other health concerns like diabetes, talk to your doctor before making drastic changes. Hopefully, by working together, you can reduce your pain without adding another pill to your daily regimen!
Do you suffer from chronic pain? Does every paper cut, stubbed toe, and pulled muscle seem to hit you harder than your friends and family? Do you wake up with random body aches that you’ve chalked up to aging? If you answered “yes” to one or more of those questions, the solution to your problem might be in an unexpected place: your blood. According to a new study published in The Journal of Pain, high blood sugar can actually increase your pain sensitivity. To discover this, researchers asked 44 people to plunge their feet into basins of cold water for one minute. The participants who ingested glucose (sugar) before taking the chilly plunge reacted more drastically to the cold water. People carrying more body fat also showed higher pain sensitivity. What does this mean for you? Well, if you struggle with pain daily and have high blood sugar and/or a high body fat percentage, you may be able to reduce your aches and pains simply by tweaking a few things in your diet. According to the Cleveland Clinic, you can make changes right now to lower your blood sugar naturally.
THE NEW YEAR IS HERE
So Don’t Forget to Update Your Estate Plan!
The new year has finally arrived, and for many, it is a time for reflection on the past year and previous goals. We have to determine where our priorities lie and ensure that we are doing everything in our power to ensure they remain our primary focus. During this moment of reflection, take some time to think about all of the changes you may have gone through. Have you updated your estate plan to accurately reflect any significant life changes you’ve recently experienced? If not, now is the perfect time to do so.
well-known of which is a change in the family dynamic. If you’ve gone through a divorce, you probably want to update your estate plan to ensure your assets go to the proper person, especially if you remarried. If you welcomed a new child or grandchild into your family, you might want to include them in your plans. Conversely, if someone in your family passed away or became untrustworthy, you may want to remove them altogether. Additionally, you may need to update your estate plan if you’ve undergone extreme lifestyle changes. You’ll need to update your plan if you’ve recently sold an asset such as
real estate or a business or if your estate has increased or decreased in value.
Even if you have not experienced a dramatic life change, you should still make an effort to review your estate plan every three years. Your feelings about beneficiaries, trustees, or executors may change with time, which should prompt an update to the plan outlining who’s in charge or who receives what. If you have any questions about your estate plan or need to create one, please give us a call today. We are more than happy to help you with your estate planning needs!
There are various circumstances that require an update to your estate plan, the most
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YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THESE EVENTS
At the Education Center at Van Dyck Law
When we opened the Education Center at Van Dyck Law, we wanted to create a place where community members could receive materials and information about dementia, estate planning, and healthy aging. Over the next few months, we will have some exciting events you’ll want to check out. All programs take place at the Education Center at Van Dyck Law, located at 707 State Road, Suite 102, in Princeton, and are open to all members of the community, clients, and professionals unless otherwise noted. Please call 609-580-1044 to register. COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES IN CAREGIVING WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 11, from 10-11 a.m. Learn how to ensure your loved one’s physical and emotional needs can be met. Caregiving is full of tasks, and our approach can change everything. Become more aware of the emotions of your loved one and how to nurture them. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA CARE SEMINAR WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
their Certified Dementia Practitioner designation. Attendance will count as CE hours for social workers, certified case managers, nurses, CALA, LNHA, and ADC. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Please call us at 609-580-1044 or email sheli@vandyckfirm.com to register. The cost to attend this seminar is $200.
THE MONTESSORI METHOD WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 10-11 a.m.
Going from “I can’t” to “I can.” This approach teaches ways to foster independence and empowerment in seniors to achieve a successful aging journey. TAKING CARE OF ME WHEN: Wednesday, March 8, from 10-11 a.m.
WHERE: Care One Jackson, 11 History Lane, Jackson, NJ 08527 This seminar is required for health care workers who want to obtain
Our loved ones may always come first when caring for them, but how do we stay mindful of our own needs while caring for others?
Van Dyck Education Center’s Upcoming Events The Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar will be held on Jan. 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This seminar will take place at Care One Jackson, located at 11 History Lane, Jackson, NJ 08527 . This event is open to health care professionals only and costs $200 to attend. Please call 609-580-1044 or email sheli@vandyckfirm.com to register. COMMUNITY EDUCATION TOPICS (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) January 11, 10 a.m.: Communication Challenges in Caregiving
Air Fryer Roasted Salmon With Sautéed Balsamic Spinach
INGREDIENTS • 3 tsp olive oil, divided • 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each) • 1 1/2 tsp reduced- sodium seafood seasoning • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1 garlic clove, sliced • Dash of crushed red pepper flakes • 10 cups fresh baby spinach (about 10 oz) • 6 small tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat air fryer to 450 F. Rub 1 tsp oil over both sides of salmon, then sprinkle with seafood seasoning and pepper. In a greased air fryer basket, place salmon. 2. Cook about 10–12 minutes until fish flakes easily. 3. In a 6-qt stockpot, place remaining oil, garlic, and pepper flakes. Heat over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes. Increase heat to medium- high. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Stir in tomatoes; heat through. 4. In a small saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil. Cook until vinegar is reduced by half, then remove from heat. 5. Arrange spinach on serving dish. Place salmon over spinach mixture and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
February 8, 10 a.m.: The Montessori Method
March 8, 10 a.m.: Taking Care of Me
For more information about these events, see above!
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
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707 State Road, Suite 102 Princeton, NJ 08540 VANDYCKFIRM.COM | 609-580-1044 Inside 1 2 The Power of Kindness
Ease Your Pain Without Medication Do You Need to Update Your Estate Plan?
Upcoming Events at the Education Center Air Fryer Roasted Salmon With Sautéed
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Balsamic Spinach Upcoming Events
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Volunteer to Stay Active
Volunteer to Keep Your Body and Mind Active! Sharing Your Time Can Become Your Favorite Exercise
Your brain expands. When you volunteer with others, you usually have a common goal, like feeding the community, cleaning up a park, or planting a garden. Joining others to accomplish a task provides a significant brain boost, and studies show camaraderie increases positive thoughts and feelings.
Staying active is increasingly vital to our health as we age. But pain, injury, or the lack of an exercise location can limit how we keep fit. But luckily, there is an easy way to have an active lifestyle without lifting weights or joining a gym: volunteer! Here are three reasons volunteering can be your new favorite exercise if you’re looking to flex some physical, mental, or social “muscle.” It moves you. Volunteering offers different ways to move your body! Even small things like strolling through a park to pick up litter, navigating around a soup kitchen, or directing visitors at your local donation center keep you active. Most organizations are happy to modify more strenuous activities (like lifting heavy boxes or walking up a steep hill) to fit your abilities. So, even if you’re just beginning an exercise habit, volunteering is a perfect initial step in your fitness journey.
On top of feeling better, volunteering keeps your mind agile. By working hard to solve a problem, you’re using more neural pathways, which helps keep mental decline at bay. You form connections. As we mentioned earlier, when you show up to volunteer, others usually attend for the same reason. Socializing with the group can help you feel less isolated and more
connected to others, and some of these people may even become friends when the job is complete. If you want to get active but don’t know of volunteer opportunities in your area, visit VolunteerMatch.org and enter your zip code to find local in-person options. Help yourself and others by making volunteer work your go-to exercise!
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