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The Medlin News
MAY 2023
Not Everything Is as It Seems MENTAL HEALTH CAN AFFECT YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
may understand the mental or physical challenges they face. Unfortunately, others may not know why they think or feel like they do, and it can be difficult to ask for help. Therefore, the best thing we can do is be kind and support our loved ones in any way we can. Our mental health can impact our lives in many ways. When we look at someone’s tone, body language, and facial expressions, we might glean their feelings, but it only touches the surface. Sometimes, people can seem happy and fine in front of others, but it may be how they want you to see them. When they’re alone, do they still have the same positive attitude? Because we don’t know what is going on in the lives and minds of others, we must withhold judgment and remain open to other perspectives. What seems normal or non-threatening to you may be horrifying to others. You don’t know what happens in the lives of those around you — they may be dealing with something that affects how they interact with others. The best thing you can do is remain consistent, supportive, and understanding. Don’t take the actions of others personally — not everything is what it seems. For those dealing with mental health issues or going through a difficult time, my thoughts are with you. I can’t begin to imagine the hardships you’re enduring, but I promise you’re not alone. There are people in your life who love you and will do anything to support you. So, don’t be afraid to ask for help. I know how difficult it is to be vulnerable — it can be one of the most challenging hurdles. But when you’re ready, people and resources are available to help you during this time.
When you wake up each day, the only point of view you see is your own. You know the errands and tasks you need to complete, what situations bother you, and the thoughts that race through your mind 24/7. But we don’t see others’ perspectives on the world and what they must endure daily. On the outside, someone can act like everything in their life is normal. But we have no idea what’s really happening behind closed doors — or what’s going on in their heart. I recently became frustrated when a friend skipped get-togethers, events, and dinners. I would always invite them to these things hoping they would attend. But each time, they never showed up — no email, text, or phone call. All I could see were the statuses they posted on social media. I didn’t understand why my friend never attended any events I invited them to. But as I began to think about it more and remove my bias and frustrations, I realized I had no idea what internal or mental battles they may be experiencing. When I looked at the situation through a different lens, I surmised my friend might want to attend these events, but other factors kept them from going.
If there is anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I want to support you in any way I can.
For additional resources and hotlines to help you during this time, please visit TSPPTC.org/ mental-health-treatment-resources .
– Gary L. Medlin, Esq.
We all endure hardships and challenges — it’s a part of life! But for some, these battles can be too much to handle. Some people
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Impress Your Kids With These Fresh Choices Level Up Your Next Family Game Night
If you’re tired of playing Catan every family board game night, we have good news: There are brand-new games in town! Consider adding these three options to your family’s stash. Wavelength Not only is this game perfect for playing with your whole family (ages 5 and up), but it also actively encourages conversation! Up to 12 players can split into teams and use hints from their peers to guess their teammates’ opinions on various topics. The issues can range from the merit of hit movies to “Where, on the scale of wet to dry, is spaghetti?” The New York Times’ Wirecutter ranked Wavelength among the best board games of 2022 and recommended it to fans of other interactive, team-based guessing games like Codenames. Steam Up: A Feast of Dim Sum Who doesn’t love a food-themed board game? This fun, fast-paced game for 2–5
players, ages 14 and up, comes with a Lazy Susan filled with dim sum ingredients. You play as a Zodiac animal and aim to collect more dim sum than any other players. Instead of fortune cookies, fortune cards help determine your luck! “If you’re looking for a fresh new party game in 2023, Steam Up looks like a real tabletop joy,” GamesHub reports. Steam Up was launched on Kickstarter and, as we write this, is available for preorder and expected to ship soon. Small World Kids ages 8 and up will love this board game, especially if they’re “Lord of the Rings” fans. As Wirecutter explains, “Imagine a game of Risk set in Middle-earth that didn’t take as long to play as rewatching all of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ films would. That’s pretty much the experience of Small World, an area-control game filled with elves, dwarves, and halflings, among others.”
When you sit down to play, you choose a band of magical creatures and a power, then set up your “empire” and battle the other players for land and gold. At the end of 60–80 minutes of strategizing, the richest player wins the game. If any of these games catch your eye, head to your local game store and ask if they’re available, or jump online to snag them yourself!
Immigration Application Pitfalls
Applying for permanent residency can be difficult due to all the moving parts of the process. Failure to submit your application on time, delays, and incomplete documents can prolong the process. However, something else can occur to delay your application — making mistakes. We’ve seen many people make mistakes and wanted to share some of them. By understanding these errors, you will be more prepared and can avoid these costly mistakes in your application. Committing Fraud The U.S. government takes fraudulent activities seriously and will deny your permanent residency application. Therefore, ensuring all your information is accurate and authentic is essential. Suppose you’re using a false identity, receiving food stamps on behalf of someone else, illegally voting, or using inaccurate information to obtain other benefits. In that case, your residency application can be denied. Dealing With Certain Health Conditions Some people may not realize their health can hinder their application — but it can! The U.S. has specific requirements regarding your physical and mental well-being when applying for permanent residency. Your application may be denied if you have a chronic illness or contagious disease that might pose a danger to
public safety or national security. Because health conditions can affect your application, the government requires all applicants to complete a physical exam as part of the application. Skipping Immigration Appointments Once you submit your application, you will schedule an appointment with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to conduct fingerprints. You may also need to schedule an interview appointment to verify items on your application or if the immigration officer has additional questions. Your application can be denied if you fail to attend meetings or court hearings. You must keep any notices you receive for an immigration hearing or appointment. It’s vital that you attend these events. The U.S. takes non-compliance seriously; one missed hearing or an appointment can lead to an application denial. We have seen people whose application was denied when they tried to navigate the process without an attorney; they were eligible but did not know how to explain certain things or advocate properly. If we had been representing them, the application would have been approved. If you’re currently navigating the application process, allow us to assist you! We can help you find immigration benefits, collect documents, and ensure everything on your application is authentic and error-free. Please give us a call to get started!
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WHERE DID THE HAMBURGER COME FROM? THE HISTORY OF AMERICA’S FAVORITE DISH
If you were to travel around the world, you could taste mouthwatering dishes in their countries of origin, authentic samples of what the rest of the country has to offer. But what about American food? It’s hard to pinpoint authentic American cuisine because the U.S. is a melting pot of different cultures. But if you look at the cooking style and traditional dishes Americans have prepared for hundreds of years, one meal always shows up — hamburgers. Where did the ubiquitous all-American hamburger come from? It all started in Germany. Although hamburgers are American cuisine, ground beef has been around since the domestication of cattle in Mesopotamia. However, people didn’t eat beef regularly until the 12th century when Hamburg, Germany, became an independent trading city. How did ground beef make its way to America? In the mid-1800s in Germany, after several political revolutions and outbreaks, German immigrants ventured to the U.S. to start new lives. One of the things these settlers brought with them was their food. Hamburg’s beef was so popular that restaurants began offering “Hamburg-style!” steaks. When did hamburgers appear in America? Hamburgers, as we eat them today, didn’t hit the scene until 1904 with the St. Louis World’s Fair. The fair introduced millions of Americans to
the meal. After fair visitors tried hamburgers, more and more people wanted to create businesses selling the delicious treat. Not surprisingly, the following years saw hamburger stands and restaurants everywhere. How did we get all of our fast-food hamburger chains? Today, if you want a burger, you can easily make one at home. But nothing is better than a freshly cooked burger from your favorite fast-food chains like McDonald’s, Five Guys, Wendy’s, In-N-Out, and others. But these aren’t the first. Edgar Ingram and Walter Anderson created the White Castle restaurant in Kansas in 1921. They focused on advertising a clean kitchen and highlighting the benefits of eating ground beef. Their restaurant quickly became a well-known spot and opened the doors for dozens of other hamburger fast-food chains to follow.
Our hamburgers and restaurants have come a long way since the 1800s! Learning about where our popular meals originated and how they
became famous is fascinating. Did any of these facts surprise you? Happy Hamburger Month, everyone!
Rhubarb Crisp
Ingredients
Directions
Topping: • 1/4 cup roughly chopped walnuts • 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats (not instant) • 1/4 tsp cinnamon • 3/4 cup flour • 1/3 cup light brown sugar • 1 tbsp sugar • 4 tbsp unsalted butter Filling: • 2 1/2 lbs rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch pieces • 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Set rack in the center of the oven. 2. In a food processor, place all topping ingredients. Pulse until the mixture is crumbled to the size of small peas. Do not over- process. Set aside. 3. Into a large, shallow baking dish, pour the rhubarb and sprinkle with sugar and flour, coating the rhubarb evenly. Spread crisp topping over entire filling mix. 4. Bake until crisp is bubbly and the top is golden brown, approximately 30–40 minutes. Serve warm or room temperature. Enjoy!
For resources, practice areas, and more, scan the QR code to visit our website, MedlinFirm.com.
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. You Never Know What Others Are Going Through
2. New Family Board Games Are Here!
3 Permanent Residency Application Mistakes to Avoid
3. Let’s Celebrate the Famous Hamburger!
Rhubarb Crisp
4. Want The Best Sleep of Your Life?
THE NEWEST TRAVEL TREND 3 HOTELS TO VISIT FOR A GREAT NIGHT’S SLEEP
If you’ve ever planned a vacation, you’ve probably picked a few key places to visit, like a museum, restaurant, or historic site. However, a new vacation trend is becoming increasingly popular: sleep tourism, where a traveler plans their entire vacation to get the best quality sleep during their time away. Before, common goals for vacations were to eat delicious foods, stay up late to see the sights, and fit in as much activity as possible. However, this left travelers completely exhausted. And as our culture continues to understand how important sleep is to our health, more people are prioritizing rest even while they’re away.
recommended eight hours of rest. It’s about building your vacation around sleep. Some hotels even offer rooms tailored to sleep tourists, with amenities so popular that their sleep options have become regular offerings. So, if sleep tourism sounds like something you’d be interested in, here are three hotels that help you catch those z’s. Park Hyatt New York (NYC): This hotel features a “Sleep Suite” designed by Bryte, a company that uses AI to facilitate sleep. The room touts an intuitive “Restorative Bed,” which adjusts to relieve pressure points and controls climate temperature throughout the night, according to each person’s needs. This suite also includes an array of soothing essential oils, a diffuser, and books about sleep.
The Cadogan, a Belmond Hotel (London): This hotel offers a “sleep concierge,” which boasts prerecorded sleep meditations and a pillow selection menu for every type of sleeper. Sleepers can even benefit from the hotel’s weighted blankets, scented pillow mist service, and their proprietary sleep tea. Zedwell (London): The first ever “sleep- centric” hotel, Zedwell uses recycled materials to insulate every door, wall, and floor from sound. This hotel also purifies the air within the hotel and fills every space with ambient lighting.
But being a sleep tourist is about more than going to bed early and ensuring you get your
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