Dunaway Law March 2019
March 2019
DUNAWAY DIGEST
One Perimeter Park South, Suite 100 North, Birmingham, AL 35243 • 205.705.3590 • MatthewDunaway.com
Where There’s a Will When Education Isn’t Enough
I love books. This will come as no surprise to anyone. I love to talk about books, I love to visit bookstores and libraries, and I love reading. Learning new things and exposing myself to new ideas is one of my greatest joys in life. Being an avid reader means learning a lot, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that knowledge is not the same thing as will. Just because we know something doesn’t mean we are good at putting that knowledge into action. One thing we hear about a lot today, when faced with all the world’s problems, is the importance of education. “We just have to educate people about the issues,” some say. “Then they’ll do what they’re supposed to do. Bad behavior just comes from a lack of education.” I disagree with this. While it’s important to make sure people are educated, that won’t magically solve all the problems. There are so many times in life when we know what we should do, but we just don’t do it. Take diet and exercise, for example. I know I should eat better and work out daily, and I know what will happen to my body if I don’t. But I often don’t follow through on this knowledge. I, like many others, am on the wagon, off the wagon, then on again when it comes to my health. The will to commit isn’t always there. On a bigger scale, the discrepancy between knowledge and will may exist in aspects of a person’s character. Everyone knows the importance of being patient, kind, and loving. We’re taught to practice these traits from the time we’re children. But when you look around, you can see all the struggles that arise because people are impatient with each
expert in applying will to knowledge. Finding the will to put our knowledge into action is hard. Like everything in life, addressing our shortcomings starts with recognition. When we realize we’re doing wrong, we must stop blaming other people, stop blaming our circumstances, and look inward. Admit the problem begins with us and start that mental shift towards improvement. Then you have to get practical about improvement, which looks different between each person. The “best thing” might be to eat a strict diet and work out for an hour every night, but I have a wife and two kids. What I eat for dinner has to work for my whole family, and I can’t do yoga every Tuesday and Thursday night at 7 p.m. — we have homework and softball practice! So maybe I start getting up at 5:30 in the morning to work out, instead of waiting until after work. Maybe I go for a run and drink more water instead of going strict vegan. Other people might have a better solution, but in order to find the will to put knowledge into action, I need to find what works for me. The best thing anyone can do is to pay attention to themselves. Instead of trying to save the world and educate everyone, we could do more by focusing on ourselves. If each person decided to start finding the will to put knowledge into action, the world would improve for the better.
Finding the will to put our knowledge into action is hard.
other, they choose not to be kind, or they practice hate over love. We know better, but we very easily refuse to do better. When it comes to my practice, I see the gap between knowledge and will all the time. People know that going into debt is bad, yet we still go into debt willingly every day! Sometimes it’s unavoidable, like business debt or medical bills, but more often it’s because our economic system and markets encourage debt. I’ve written about this paradox before. Our moral system, our sense of personal responsibility, acknowledges that excess debt is bad and should be avoided, but our economic system pushes us to go into debt in order to buy what we want or “improve our credit score.” And quite often, many of us don’t have to will to resist that push.
–Matt Dunaway 1 Phone: 205.705.3590
I don’t claim to have all the answers in this area, and I certainly don’t claim to be an
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Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day
Family-Friendly Activities
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day doesn’t have to mean heading to the local Irish bar and drinking a large green beverage. If you’re not interested in going out this year and would prefer to do something at home with the family, here are a few ways everyone can celebrate. Irish-Themed Food What better way to get festive than by making some St. Patrick’s Day- themed dishes? You can make rainbow cupcakes, green cookies, St. Patrick’s Day popcorn, or — for a more traditional dish — Irish soda bread. You can also cook up an array of greens for dinner on March 17, which could include Brussels sprouts, spinach, cucumbers, green beans, peas, or asparagus. A Mischievous Leprechaun To treat your kids to a fun game, leave green footprints around the house and participate in impish tricks! Empty a tissue box, hide the remote, swap out regular light bulbs with green ones, or draw rainbows on the windows. You’re only limited by your imagination. Exploring Irish Culture Another way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your family is to sit down and read about Irish culture with your kids. Learn where the legend of the leprechaun came from or read other stories from Irish folklore. You can also watch videos of Irish dance performances and encourage the kids to make their own. There’s also fascinating history on St. Patrick and why he became the patron of the holiday that your family members can research together. If you have Irish roots, tell your kids about your heritage. Watch Irish Movies For a relaxing activity, settle down in front of the TV for a movie night filled with films related to Irish culture. Try “The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns,” “Song of the Sea,” “The Luck of the Irish,” or “The Secret of Kells.” Make an Impact Teach your kids how to be “greener” this month by doing more for the environment. Discuss ways to save energy and water in the home, and talk about the importance of taking a break from electronics and enjoying the outdoors. This list is not exhaustive by any means, but it’s a good start to get your family to create new ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. You might even create family traditions that will last for years to come.
Highly recommended! Matt, your expertise and efficiency are incredible! You are a true master of your craft, and your service is unparalleled. You deserve six stars for quickly guiding me through the options and helping me select the best one for me. And then you took care of it just as quickly! Thank you, Matt! -Stuart I felt Matthew was very knowledgeable about what he does and actually cares about his clients. I’m glad I drove the hour to the office instead of choosing a lawyer that was just five minutes from my house. We want to thank you for taking time to hear our situation and helping us through that difficult time. -Ron M.
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An Inside Job
The Curious Case of the Disappearing Flags
Theft is a serious matter, made even more grave when the victims are fallen war heroes. Such was the situation that stumped police in Hudson, New York, in 2012. The crime was first committed in July of the previous year. Flags had been placed around the graves of soldiers in Cedar Park Cemetery — only to go missing right around Independence Day. Veterans groups and locals were outraged and mystified by the crime. Some worried that a hate group was to blame, as the missing flags had adorned the graves of Jewish soldiers. Veterans worked to replace the flags, one by one, and right the wrong. No culprit was found, and the community moved on — until the following July, when the mystery repeated itself. Like the year before, flags were placed on veterans’ graves in honor of Independence Day, and again, they went missing sometime in the night, this time taken from the graves of Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
they watched the tapes, sure enough, they saw one of the culprits sitting atop a gravestone with an empty flagpole in front of him. It was a groundhog. Apparently, the wooden flagpoles attract groundhogs, something other groundskeepers have experienced as well. “I’m glad we don’t have someone who has taken it upon themselves to desecrate the stones and the flags in front of them,” said Hudson mayor Bill Hallenbeck. “We can all rest a little easier knowing that it was a critter and not a human defacing our flags, especially those of the veterans,” added Hudson’s police commissioner. Turns out Punxsutawney Phil has some very naughty cousins — ones who aren’t subject to the law.
African American Civil War soldiers. Cemetery caretaker and veteran Vincent Wallace was appalled, as was the rest of his community. “I just can’t comprehend the mindset that would allow someone to do this,” Wallace said. Determined to find out who was to blame, police put up surveillance cameras and recorded the goings-on in the cemetery. As
RECIPE:
Homemade Corned Beef
INGREDIENTS:
• 2 quarts water • 1 cup kosher salt • 1/2 cup brown sugar • 2 tablespoons saltpeter (potassium nitrate) • 1 cinnamon stick, broken into large pieces • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds • 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns • 8 cloves garlic • 8 whole allspice berries
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12 whole juniper berries 2 bay leaves, crumbled 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1 5-pound beef brisket, trimmed 1 small onion, quartered 1 large carrot, coarsely chopped 1 stalk celery, coarsely chopped 2 pounds ice
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DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large stockpot, combine water, garlic, and all herbs and spices to make brine. Cook over high heat until salt and sugar are fully dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in ice. 2. Once water temp reaches 45 F, place brisket in a 2-gallon zip-close bag, pour in brine to cover, lay flat in a large container, and store in fridge. 3. Brine for 10 days, checking daily to make sure brisket is fully submerged and brine is stirred. 4. After 10 days, remove brisket from brine and rinse under cool water. In a large pot, cover brisket, onion, carrot, and celery with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and gently simmer for 2 1/2–3 hours. 5. Remove, slice across the grain, and serve.
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Phone: 205.705.3590
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205.705.3590 MatthewDunaway.com
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Inside This Issue
Is Knowledge Really Power? Page 1
Family Activities for St. Patrick’s Day Our Clients Say It Best Page 2
The Curious Case of the Disappearing Flags Homemade Corned Beef Page 3 WhyWe Do What We Do Page 4
‘The Power of Habit’ by Charles Duhigg A Page FromMatt’s Bookshelf
Our life is made up of habits. Habits aren’t inherently good or bad. Most are completely unnoticeable, like what time we brush our teeth or how we pull the car out of the driveway. But watching TV instead of exercising, drinking too much, or overindulging in sweets are habits too. Charles Duhigg, a Pulitzer prize-winning reporter and author of “The Power of Habit,” suggests that by isolating our habits, we can improve our life for the better.
According to Duhigg, you can’t remove a habit, but you can change it. If you identify your cue and reward surrounding a bad habit, you can replace it with a better routine that meets your needs. Changing your habits isn’t easy. It takes time and effort. One of Duhigg’s examples of a system that helps people change their habits is Alcoholics Anonymous. When people join A.A., attending meetings is the routine that replaces drinking. Bill Wilson, the man who created A.A., was incredibly religious, and it was his belief in Christ that led him to found A.A. and help thousands of recovering alcoholics. When I read “The Power of Habit,” Bill Wilson’s story stuck with me. I think that in order to really change, you have to recognize there’s something bigger than yourself that’s worth changing for. We change because there’s something more important than ourselves and our petty wants. This could be devotion to your family or devotion to God, but if you don’t have something to put your faith in, what’s the point? Change is personal. There’s no easy trick or magic spell. But if you’re willing to change, if you learn how to change, and if you find a reason to change, you can succeed.
I’ve read “The Power of Habit” numerous times. What I love most about this book is that it’s not the typical fluffy guru stuff you find in a lot of self-help books. Duhigg offers a lot of scientific research and real- world examples about how habits control our lives. At the same time, when Duhigg talks about what happens in our brains, he manages to do so without turning it into a textbook about neuroscience.
Duhigg breaks down habits into a cycle of three steps: cue, routine, and reward.
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