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December 2023
I love what I do. My firm means so much to me, so much so that I’m convinced I couldn’t handle a vacation longer than two weeks. I’m sure any business owner can understand the severe vacation guilt that happens when you finally take a breather. As we continue into the holiday season, there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll need to confront our vacation guilt and stop checking our emails! There have only been a few occasions when I did take time off, and it was for my family. When my daughter graduated from high school, we took an incredible trip to London, Paris, and Rome with a tour group. We covered these iconic cities in just nine days! While this may seem too short to explore, nine days was cutting it close before I had a workaholic meltdown. Despite feeling drawn back to the firm, I also couldn’t ignore the travel bug I got on this trek. I couldn’t help but want to explore the rest of the globe, but that vacation guilt was nagging at me to come back home. Another trip that had me torn between work and travel was in 2019 when my son was about to graduate high school, and my daughter was completing her master’s. We took a trip to Hawaii in anticipation of the two celebrations. (Thankfully, we planned to take the trip in 2019, instead of 2020; COVID-19 would have forced us to cancel.) But it only took a week before I was checking my phone for voicemails, emails, and texts, which, in my mind, would cause a catastrophe at work if I missed them! So, how can I and other business owners overcome vacation guilt? I’ve gotten a bit more relaxed since then, but it’s times like those when I remind myself I’ll be practicing law for as long as God lets me! Recently, a friend asked me if I had retired. Retired ? Absolutely not! I almost couldn’t understand the question; I was so dumbfounded. I will die in the saddle, that much I am sure! While there are certain things about being an attorney I don’t love, this profession is truly part of my life, and I couldn’t imagine being without it. As it says in Psalms 90:10, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly How Business Owners Can Enjoy Their Well-Deserved Holidays The Struggle of Vacation Guilt
Will, Hannah, Cindy and I in front of Diamond Head Mountain in Hawaii
away.” I will be blessed to live that many years and practice law for as long as I physically can. When I think about all the years ahead, I know a vacation in the long run will only do me good. I’ll be turning 60 in January, and I’ve started to think about the fact I’ve never been to Germany or the countryside of England or out to the Far East like Japan. There is still so much I want to see! I remember a friend of mine went on a trip to Tuscany and sent photos to me every day. I was 100% envious. That’s when I told my wife, “You know, for the first time, I’m jealous of another man.” Of course, she reminded me, “Honey, I think you’re forgetting about Elvis. Also, who are you talking about?” I don’t want to just keep wishing I was traveling. I want to actually do it! This holiday season and in the years to come, I hope we can all make time for new adventures. While your work is important, don’t let it stop you from seeing Stonehenge or riding camels in Morocco.
Happy holidays and safe travels!
–Bryan Ramey
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The Battle Over Student Loan Forgiveness What Happens Now?
The costs of higher education have grown substantially over the past few decades. According to a report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, the average cost of tuition, fees, and room and board for an undergraduate degree has increased 169% between 1980 and 2020. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that tuition has risen by another 5% in the past three years alone. While the cost of a college education has continued to go up, the average wage earned by recent college graduates has not kept pace, with only a 19% increase between 1980 and 2020. Most students and their families cannot afford college tuition on their paycheck alone, which has led them to take out exorbitant student loans. When the pandemic started, many Americans grew fearful of their financial future. Many were losing their jobs or getting furloughed, so they worried they couldn’t afford housing, food, or basic necessities, let alone their monthly student loan payments. In March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which paused all federal student loan repayment programs. Individuals could still make payments on their loans, but they didn’t have to worry about interest or past-due notices. To help young Americans reclaim their financial freedom, President Joe Biden announced in August 2022 a $400 billion plan to eliminate or reduce federal student loan debt for millions of Americans. Not everyone in Congress agreed with Biden’s proposal, which led to the Supreme Court deciding the issue. The Supreme Court voted against the proposed plan 6-3. They claimed Biden was trying to use a bipartisan law from 2003 that deals with national emergencies to gain the power he needed to push his plan into action. “Six states sued, arguing that the HEROES Act [Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act] does not authorize the loan cancellation plan. We agree,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. So, where do we go from here? The student loan forgiveness plan is out the window. Interest on student
loan repayments started back up in September, with actual payments resuming in October. President Biden has not backed down on helping college graduates with their student loan payments. A few months ago, the Education Department unveiled its newest income-driven repayment plan called Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE). While SAVE doesn’t outright cancel any federal student loans, it will make repayment much more affordable for millions of Americans. A couple of fantastic benefits come with SAVE. First, borrowers earning less than $32,800 individually or $67,500 for a family of four will see $0 monthly bills. Other borrowers will pay less each month, with many experts estimating that payments will be cut in half. Students who took or plan to take less than $12,000 in loans will be eligible for forgiveness after 10 years instead of 25. And possibly the best benefit is that interest will no longer build up as long as you make your monthly payments. While it’s not total forgiveness, this plan does help recent college graduates get off the ground. One of the biggest concerns regarding student loan forgiveness was that it would apply only to people with loans. SAVE will help all former, current, and future higher education students. If you have children or grandchildren preparing to start college in the next few years, share this great news with them, as it will help make college more affordable for all.
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TAKE A BREAK
Chimney Christmas
Gifts Igloo
Mistletoe Ornament Parka Reindeer Sleigh Snowman Wreath Yuletide
Dreams are mysterious journeys into our subconscious. They can be filled with strange places, familiar faces, or bizarre scenarios. While the content of your dreams may seem random, research suggests the position you sleep in can influence their nature and intensity. The Impact of Sleep Position on Dreams The way you sleep can affect how often you enter the rapid eye movement (REM) stage and, consequently, the types of dreams you experience. While researchers can’t conclusively identify the relationship between sleeping positions and dreams, they have reached some research-based theories. Supine (On Your Back) Sleeping on your back allows for more unobstructed breathing and less fragmented sleep and may increase the likelihood of vivid and intense dreams because you’re more likely to reach REM sleep. Prone (On Your Stomach) Sleeping face down is associated with more restless sleep, less REM, and potentially fewer dreams, meaning your dreams will be less vivid and memorable. Lateral (On Your Side) Sleeping on your side, particularly in the fetal position, commonly leads to emotional dreams, possibly due to the sense of vulnerability or comfort this position provides. While sleep position can influence the frequency and nature of your dreams, it’s only one piece of the dream puzzle! Dreams remain a complex aspect of human consciousness, but it’s pretty neat to know that how you sleep may play a part! A Dreamer’s Guide: The Link Between Sleep Positions and Dreams
Chicken, Leek, and Blue Cheese Pilaf
Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
Ingredients
• 2 1/2 cups water • 1/2 cup brown basmati rice • 2 tsp vegetable bouillon powder • 1 bay leaf
• 1 leek, thinly sliced • 2 zucchini, thinly sliced • 1 cup frozen peas • 4 walnut halves, broken • 1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
• 1 tsp grapeseed oil • 2 skinless chicken breasts, chopped
Directions 1. In a large pot, add water, rice, bouillon powder, and bay leaf. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, in a large frying pan, heat oil and stir-fry chicken over medium-high heat until just cooked. Remove from pan, then fry leek until soft. Add zucchini, stir-fry for a few minutes more, then add peas. 3. When the rice is cooked, add it and any liquid from the pot to the vegetables. Return chicken to the pan, then cover and cook for 5 minutes more. Stir in walnuts and cheese and serve hot.
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33 Market Point Drive Greenville, SC 29607 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Bryan’s Lessons on
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Conquering Vacation Guilt
New Hope for Student Loan Borrowers
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Chicken, Leek, and Blue Cheese Pilaf
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Sleep Position Secrets
The Unbelievable Story of WWI’s Christmas Truce
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A BRIEF PAUSE IN THE TRENCHES The Heartwarming Tale of the Christmas Truce in WWI
Christmas is a time for kindness, yet for those in the trenches during World War I, no one expected mercy. It was Christmas Eve 1914 when British soldiers huddled in the mud-filled trenches, trying their best to ignore the harsh winter winds. Well, that was when peace broke out all along the Western Front. It became known to the world as the Christmas Truce after countless men wrote about their experiences amid the ceasefire. Records reveal the Germans called over to the British at around 10 p.m. to share some wine. At first, the British soldiers were skeptical, yet as they met halfway along the battlefield, amiable chatter and merriment began.
All along the trenches on various battlefields, French, German, Belgian, and British soldiers followed the
Christmas Truce. Men who were shooting at one another the day before began to share cigarettes, sip wine, and joke around. One account even recalled a soccer match between the British and German soldiers. A German lieutenant named Kurt Zehmisch wrote of the match in his diary. He wrote, “Eventually, the English brought a soccer ball from their trenches, and pretty soon a lively game ensued.” Zehmisch added, “How marvelously wonderful, yet how strange it was. The English officers felt the same way about it. Thus, Christmas, the celebration of Love, managed to bring mortal enemies together as friends for a time.”
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