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December 2025
Moving With the Rhythm of Time LESSONS FROM THE SHORTEST DAYS
With the short winter days upon us, I’ve been thinking a lot about the rhythm of the year lately. Something about this time reminds me of how the pace of life shifts with the amount of light we get each day. I first noticed it growing up in Washington state. Summers there seemed endless. My siblings and I would play in the backyard long past what should have been bedtime, with light still spread across the grass. The short winter days didn’t stand out as much, maybe because the sky was usually overcast anyway. During winter in the Puget Sound area, you hardly notice when the sun goes down. That changed when I moved to Reno in the ‘90s. The light here is more vivid, so you notice when it’s gone. When I took up cycling in the 2000s, I became obsessed with daylight. I’d track sunrise and sunset times and even check an almanac to see when I could start riding to work again. I had bike lights to extend my ride through dusk, but I really wanted sunlight. I craved it. I watched the days slowly stretch after winter, adding a few minutes at a time. It felt like waiting for life to open up again. Somewhere along the way, that changed, too. These days, I try to take what every season gives. If I get short days, I see it as time to slow down, maybe rest a little, and let the darker months play their part. When spring comes, I’ll be ready for it. Every season has something different to offer. I’ve learned to accept the changes and resist pushing against the natural flow of time. “Every season has something different to offer. I’ve learned to accept the changes and resist pushing against the natural flow of time.”
It’s taken me a while to realize that the same pattern shows up beyond the seasons. Work has its busy stretches, life has its slower ones, and not every month is the month to get faster on my bike. Some are meant for building a base, slowing down, or simply taking it easy. When I fight that rhythm, I usually end up frustrated. Lately, I’ve been paying closer attention to what keeps me grounded. When I catch myself rehashing the past, it’s my cue that I’m not really present. I’ll pause, take a breath, and notice a few things around me. It might be how the air feels, what I can hear nearby, or what my hands are resting on. Sometimes, I just listen without planning what comes after. It’s a small reset, but it works. Time does seem to move faster as I get older, but instead of trying to slow it down, I try to move with it. It’s like being carried along a stream; you can’t hold still, but you can look around and take it in. There’s value in that awareness. For me, it’s where I find gratitude. Paying attention and being thankful for what’s right here makes my days feel fuller. However short or long they are, they’re enough.
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DON’T SIGN THAT JOB OFFER BLINDLY Fine-Print Focus
In today’s competitive job market, landing new employment is the least of your worries.
Never disregard a seemingly minor typo as a slight variation in a job title (e.g., “managerr” or “supervisor” versus “manager”) could be enough to impact your anticipated compensation, workday obligations, and even your tax status. Even the most professional companies can make mistakes in drafting documentation, so never assume Human Resources has everything covered. Do the perks make sense as presented? In addition to confirming exactly what you’ll do and be paid, you must ensure any benefits outlined in the contract align with your expectations or with anything you may have been told during interview(s) and negotiation(s). Review all insurance benefits, paid vacations, PTO/sick leave structures, retirement plans, and bonuses detailed in the contract before signing, and immediately raise any questions or concerns with the appropriate parties. What is yours, and what is your employer’s? With remote work on the rise, your employer may be based in another state. Your employee contract should detail your remote status and any expectations for occasional “hybrid” work (e.g., working at the corporate office once a week) and work-related travel. Expense reimbursement is another factor to consider when reading your contract. Review any provisions regarding your responsibilities in using employer-supplied equipment (laptops, printers, scanners, etc.) required for your remote position. Sometimes, your work may entail creating intellectual property the employer owns. For example, if you make digital media for a company, you likely won’t be able to apply it to your personal use or bring it to a subsequent employer. The employee contract will likely include specific proprietary rights and intellectual property language. Before agreeing to an employer’s contract terms, you should address any verification needs. These questions are just the tip of the iceberg. No two employee contracts are exactly alike, so it’s essential to diligently review any documentation you receive, even if you need to bring in a legal professional for an extra pair of eyes.
Depending on your chosen industry, you may be required to review and sign an employment contract before starting a new position. Ideally, this document will clearly outline what your new employer offers you to work for them and the responsibilities they expect you to fulfill. While the concept is simple enough, a host of nuances and potential red flags in an employee contract may reveal that your new job is more (or less) than you expected. Considering that the average U.S. employee stays with a single employer for approximately four years before moving on, reviewing your employee contract carefully ensures the job of your dreams doesn’t devolve into a logistical, financial, or professional nightmare. Here are three key questions to consider before agreeing to the contract terms presented to you. Does the contract accurately describe your role? In many cases, an online job description is the employer’s wish list of duties that could fall under that role. Specific responsibilities related to a particular position may be refined during the interview and negotiation process, especially if the employer is in a transitional period of restructuring its workflow and employee roles. When reviewing your employee contract, confirm that your job title, duties, payment terms and methods, and length of service (if the position is temporary) are described accurately. “No two employee contracts are exactly alike, so it’s essential to diligently review any documentation you receive, even if you need to bring in a legal professional for an extra pair of eyes.”
Good luck with your job search, and happy reading!
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BRAIN GAMES
SOLUTION
Syllables That Shape Society
The ‘Saxon Clincher’ Effect
The right selection of syllables can change the course of history.
As any English teacher or professional editor (or anyone who’s ever confused “they’re,” “there,” or “their”) will tell you, navigating modern English is often chaotic and confounding. In a 2020 blog, Ward Farnsworth of the University of Texas School of Law attempted to explain how it got this way. “English is a language built mostly out of two others. Much of it was created from the language of invaders who came to Britain around 450 AD from Anglia and Saxony (in what we’d now call northern Germany). About 600 years later, the French [Normans] invaded and brought their language with them, too, derived from Latin. The new French competed with Old English, and the eventual outcome was modern English, built out of both.” Farnsworth’s observation isn’t new. Various speeches by President Abraham Lincoln, largely considered one of the world’s greatest orators, made excellent use of this mix of languages by understanding that Anglo-Saxon words tend to be direct and words of French origin tend to be a bit more flowery. Lincoln applied these characteristics to create what some linguistic circles call a “Saxon clincher,” a straightforward conclusion to a more colorfully worded introduction. A Saxon clincher can be employed to gain attention with impactful opening words before driving the point home more simply. According to Farnsworth, Lincoln’s talent for perfecting this approach shines through in this passage from his “House Divided” speech in 1858: Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new, North as well as South. Did you notice how the first half includes colorful words such as “opponents” and “extinction,” and the final 14 words are simple with one syllable each? That’s the Saxon clincher, and the pathway to a perfect speech, in a nutshell.
BAKED FETA, TOMATO, AND WHITE BEAN SKILLET
Ingredients
• 2 pints cherry tomatoes • 2 (15-oz) cans no-salt-added cannellini beans, rinsed • 4 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped • 2 tsp Italian seasoning • 1/4 tsp salt • 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided • 6 oz feta cheese, packed in brine, cut into 4 pieces
• 1 tbsp hot honey • Basil leaves, for garnish • 4 slices toasted whole-wheat country bread, optional, for serving
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 450 F. 2. In a large, oven-safe skillet, combine tomatoes, beans, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt. 3. Drizzle with 5 tbsp of olive oil and stir gently. 4. Add feta pieces 2 inches apart in the mixture and drizzle with remaining olive oil. 5. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the tomatoes have burst. 6. Remove from oven and drizzle with hot honey. Garnish with basil leaves, and serve with toast if desired.
Inspired by EatingWell.com
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IF SOMETHING IN YOUR BUSINESS IS KEEPING YOU UP AT NIGHT, CALL US AT 775.448.6070. REFERRALS ARE ALSO WELCOME.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1
What Short Winter Days Can Teach Us
The Weight of Written Words
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Baked Feta, Tomato, and White Bean Skillet
President Lincoln’s Unique Speech Style
Terror Turns to Trial
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A ‘Leatherface’ Lawsuit Leaves a Mark SLIPS, SCREAMS, AND SETTLEMENTS
If you’re a horror film fan, you know how common it is for a would-be victim to trip and fall long enough to allow the killer chasing them to catch up and carry out some nasty deed. While this scene is a classic cliché of the genre, it would strike genuine terror in anyone’s heart if it played out in the real world, especially when you’re a 57-year-old woman with her grandchild in tow. In the late 1990s, Cleanthi Peters accompanied her 10-year-old granddaughter to a Hell’s High haunted house attraction at Universal Studios in Florida. As their walk-through was about to end, an actor portraying the menacing character Leatherface from the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” film franchise began chasing them while wielding a fake chainsaw. As the frightened pair began running away from the grotesque antagonist, they slipped on a wet spot on the floor, just like in the movies. Instead of breaking character to help them, the actor playing the pretend psychopath continued to menace the two by standing above them with his torturous tool still in his hands.
Claiming the incident left her and her granddaughter “extremely fearful and in mental distress and anguish,” Peters later sued Universal Studios for emotional distress and other injuries. After numerous trials, the suit was decided in Peters’ favor, resulting in a $15,000 judgment against Universal Studios for failure to keep its haunted house safe for occupants. While this case occurred in Florida, legal experts have opined that the verdict may have been the same in other states, since an unsafe wet floor wouldn’t be a reasonable expectation for anyone attending a haunted house attraction. While Hell’s High may have succeeded in frightening Peters and her granddaughter, the suit proves that horror-themed
entertainment can sometimes be too scary, especially for the defendant’s legal counsel, and Leatherface is best encountered from the comfort of a TV or movie theater screen.
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Published by Newsletter Pro • newsletterpro.com
Safeguarding Your Family Business
Embarking on a commercial lease for your family business can be an exciting yet nerve- wracking endeavor. It’s crucial to approach this process with a keen awareness of the potential pitfalls that could jeopardize not only your business but also your personal life. In this discussion, we will explore key considerations for family business owners entering into commercial leases, offering insights on negotiation strategies and essential precautions. When entering into a commercial lease, family business owners must recognize the negotiation power they hold. A critical element of the lease is the personal guarantee, which exposes individual assets to legal actions if rent obligations are not met. To protect yourself, negotiate the terms A GUIDE TO NAVIGATING COMMERCIAL LEASES
of the personal guarantee. Aim to eliminate it entirely or, more feasibly, structure it to diminish over time based on your business’s consistent rent payments. Moreover, there are various other negotiable aspects of a commercial lease. Seek options to extend the lease, allowing you greater control over the property’s fate in the future. Tenant improvements and free rent incentives are also negotiable points that can enhance the overall value of the lease agreement. Partnering with a dedicated commercial real estate agent is paramount when searching for a property to house your family business. Unlike the landlord’s agent, who primarily represents the property owner’s interests,
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your agent is focused on securing the best possible deal for you. This service typically comes at no direct cost to you, making it a prudent investment in safeguarding your family’s business interests. To navigate the complexities of a commercial lease, enlist the expertise of a skilled business attorney. A legal professional can identify potential pitfalls within the lease agreement and guide you through the negotiation process. Having an attorney involved also serves as a deterrent to any unscrupulous behavior from the landlord, as the lease can stipulate that notices must be sent to both you and your attorney. Signing a commercial lease is a significant step for any family business, and
understanding the intricacies of the agreement is crucial for long-term success. By recognizing your negotiation power, working with a dedicated commercial real estate agent, and engaging a knowledgeable business attorney, you can protect your family business from potential pitfalls and ensure a secure and prosperous future. If you have questions or concerns about commercial leases, the Sierra Crest Business Law Firm is here to help guide you through the process and safeguard your business and livelihood. Give us a call, and let us be your partner in securing a bright future for your family business. “When you understand your leasing power and have the right team behind you, your family business can truly thrive.”
6770 S. McCarran Blvd, First Floor Reno, NV 89509 775.448.6070 SierraCrestLaw.com
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