Take a look at our April newsletter!
APRIL 2023
BE SMART, GET RINEHARDT Rinehardt Law | RinehardtLawFirm.com | 419-LAW-2020
FINDING JOY IN THE ORDINARY
You may have noticed over the past few months that there have been some exciting things happening for many of our team members at Rinehardt Injury Attorneys. You’ve read about Rachel’s gorgeous beach wedding, John and Hillary’s delightful and long-awaited new house in the country, and some shuffling of offices and getting used to new workspaces in our Mansfield location. Big life events and new experiences like these are fun, thrilling, and uplifting. But what about those long stretches of time for many of us when new life experiences are something we only read about on our friends’ social media accounts? How can we stay engaged and positive about our daily lives when we fall into the slump of seeing only the routine and the ordinary?
workday: I leave the office, drive home, grab the mail from the mailbox, walk in my front door, change clothes, and fix something simple to eat. Yawn. That’s about as boring as it gets, isn’t it? But if I think back to the times when my evening schedule varied because I was sick, in the hospital, tending to a family member’s injury, or navigating the loss of a loved one, I remember how much I longed for exactly those routines that are now bringing me down. When I can’t do those ordinary things, those are exactly the things that I miss. The drive home? It’s relaxing, and I can listen to whatever music I like. Getting the mail? It’s fun to get a new magazine or just to read the old-school print version of the local news. Walking in my front door? Nothing’s more welcoming than the greeting of my tail-wagging best friend.
sometimes it takes not having them to make us appreciate how important they are.
Still not sure how to find joy in your everyday routines? Try starting a gratitude journal. You don’t have to write a long entry, and you don’t have to do it every day. Just try it for a few days every now and then. All you have to do is jot down three things each day you were thankful for. You will likely find — as I did — that there are usually many more than three things you appreciated that day. Getting to savor a cup of tea while it’s still warm? Yep, that’s one. Realizing I still had a spare bag of cat food when I’d thought I would need to run to the store? Uh-huh, that’s one, too. Getting a text from my favorite law-school classmate? Yes, indeed. Little things, for sure. But when I add them all together, I always end up with a day I am so glad I had the chance to experience. So, next time you are scrolling through Facebook photos of a friend’s new grandchild or listening to a coworker talk about her tropical vacation, let your mind drift back to the things in your life you know you would miss if you couldn’t experience them. Think about how much you love picking up your silly cat and hearing her loud purr or walking in your backyard and seeing the bright yellow daffodils blooming. The joy of those small, ordinary things is exactly what makes each day worthwhile.
I’m as guilty as anybody of getting into these “ruts” of feeling like my life is mundane
and uneventful. No exotic vacations, no new house or even renovations, no new car, no new kids or grandkids. Just regular life. Regular, ordinary, boring old life. Right? Well, (get ready for the typical lawyer answer here) … that depends. You see, this is one of those situations where your perspective makes all the difference. Let’s take the example of my routine, humdrum start to the evening at the end of every
This is probably a lesson I’ve learned best through
representing folks in personal injury cases. When our clients are recovering from injuries, they don’t talk about the big things they miss, like vacations or concerts or shopping for a new car. They tell me about how much they miss sleeping in their bed upstairs, standing at the stove to make their favorite soup recipe, or driving to school to pick up their kids in the afternoon. Those are the delights of everyday life, but
- Melanie Fahey
Ordinary couch + ordinary book + not-so-ordinary dog = joy
1 Rinehardt Law | BeSmartLegal.com
Find More ‘You’ Time
DEVELOPING A SELF-CARE ROUTINE
Make time for hobbies. Most people find themselves constantly juggling countless tasks and obligations. With so much to do, making time for your least favorite activities likely won’t happen; instead, do something you enjoy. After all, self-care is about you! Yoga, reading, journaling, jogging, and meditating are just a few ways to get in some “you time.” If you like it, do it! Plan your self-care time. Without adding self-care to your schedule, your healthy behaviors may get placed on the back burner. Block off time for your favorite activities: Once it’s on your calendar, you’re more likely to work a routine into your day. Keep it simple. Complex rituals may create more stress or anxiety when you should be relaxing. Instead, keep it simple by focusing on relaxing, breathing, and recharging. Go for a walk in the park, take a nap, get a massage, stretch, or take a few moments to do absolutely nothing. Simplicity is the key.
Life isn’t easy — when juggling a career, family, children, social obligations, and housework, finding time for yourself can be difficult. Studies show that roughly 59% of individuals only make time for self- care after they’ve become stressed out. Here are some ways to develop a healthy routine that suits your busy life. Become intentional. When developing a self-care ritual, it’s essential to identify your reasons behind taking better care of yourself and to pinpoint your needs. With a clear vision and motive behind your efforts, developing healthy habits to nurture and incorporate into your everyday routine becomes easier. Create large and small self-care options. You don’t need to do the same self-care ritual all the time, but make it a point to do something for yourself every day. On busier days, you may only have a moment to take a few deep breaths and mentally reset, but on other days, you may have time for a relaxing bath, massage, workout, or pedicure.
Saying Goodbye to ‘Forgotten’ Chores
BY USING A CHORE CHART
Every parent knows the struggle: You try to assign chores to yourself, your spouse, and your children, but somehow at least one falls through the cracks. Maybe your son “forgets” to vacuum, or your daughter “thought it was her brother’s turn” to do the dishes. If you’re sick of the excuses, don’t worry — we have a solution. A chore chart will solve your tidy home problem. What is a chore chart? A chore chart is a supersize spreadsheet that maps out all of your household’s necessary chores as well as who is responsible for completing them. It’s a powerful tool to help you divide labor among family members. You can even place the chart in your kitchen or living room to keep your whole family on track. How will it help your family? First, your family won’t need to waste time arguing over whose turn it is to do which chores. Second, thanks to the prominent reminder, everyone will be more likely to do their tasks on time. Third, with all the duties clearly outlined, you can ensure that the distribution of labor is fair for everyone. Finally, you’ll teach your kids task
management and help them reap the benefits chores provide. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry, your children will gain higher self-esteem, become more responsible, and display increased resilience when facing challenges. How can you make one? You’ll need a whiteboard and a few markers to create a basic chore chart. On the left side of the board, write a list of your family members’ names and their daily chores (for example: “Sarah, set the table”) from top to bottom. Across the top of the chart, write the days of the week from left to right. Then, draw horizontal lines between the chores and vertical lines between the days to create a grid. That’s it! Throughout the week, your family can make check marks in the boxes corresponding to the chores they’ve finished. You can also use magnets to mark completed tasks if you have a magnetic board. To inject a little fun into your chart, use different colors for each family member and decorate it with meaningful drawings and quotes. You can create similar charts for weekly or monthly chores, too!
2 Rinehardt Law | BeSmartLegal.com
April is distracted driving awareness month. Since 2017, there have been over 70,000 distracted driving crashes, 39% of which have been with drivers between the ages of 15 and 24. On top of that, law enforcement has written nearly 40,000 tickets for distracted driving violations. According to Ohio law, no individual can use an electronic device to write, send, or read a text while driving. In January of this year, Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 288 to strengthen the existing laws related to texting while driving. The law went into effect this month. The new law makes texting while driving a primary offense, meaning an officer can stop a vehicle for the sole purpose of presenting a citation without needing evidence of another offense. Before, adult drivers could be cited for distracted driving only after committing a separate primary offense. The new law gives police the right to pull someone over upon seeing a violation (like texting or scrolling) or just for holding a cellphone. Penalties include a fine of up to $150 for a driver’s first offense and two points on their license unless a distracted driving safety course is completed. Increased penalties can occur if the driver is a repeat offender. What Are We Watching? OHIO’S NEW TEXTING AND DRIVING LAW
Crisps are old-fashioned comfort food. Hillary has been making this recipe every spring when rhubarb is in season. Warning: It is so delicious that it is hard to stop eating. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Apple-Rhubarb Crisp
INGREDIENTS
For the Topping: • 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour • 2/3 cup packed brown sugar • 3 tbsp sugar • 1/4 cup finely chopped toasted almonds or walnuts • 1/2 tsp cinnamon • 1 stick butter, slightly softened and cut into small pieces
For the Filling: • 2 lbs crisp baking apples • 1 1/2 lbs rhubarb • 1–1 1/2 cups sugar • 4 tbsp flour • 1 tsp cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
To Make the Topping: 1. In a bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, sugar, nuts, and cinnamon. 2. Work in the butter until the mixture resembles dry oats. The mixture should just hold together and look crumbly. To Make the Filling: 3. Heat the oven to 350°F. Peel, core, and quarter the apples. Cut each quarter into 4 chunks. You should have about 5 cups. 4. Trim the rhubarb and cut it into 1-by-1/2-inch pieces; you should have about 5 cups of rhubarb. 5. In a large bowl, toss the apples and rhubarb with the sugar, flour, and cinnamon until well coated. Transfer the apple and rhubarb mixture to a 2-qt baking dish and sprinkle the topping evenly over the top. 6. Bake until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling, 1 hour to 1 hour, 15 min. Cool slightly before serving.
However, for the law’s first six months, offenders will get off with warnings to give people time to know about the change in the law.
Under the new law, a driver may still use their device in certain circumstances, such as when their vehicle is parked or stopped at a red light. Drivers are also allowed to swipe their phones to answer a call and to hold their phones to their ears during phone conversations. Emergency calls are also granted in all circumstances.
In our office, we see the devastating effects of crashes caused by distracted driving. Hopefully, the new law will save lives and prevent injuries.
3 Rinehardt Law | BeSmartLegal.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
2404 Park Ave. W., Mansfield, OH 44906 419-LAW-2020 BeSmartLegal.com
INSIDE THIS EDITION
1 Finding Joy in the Ordinary 2 Putting Together a Self-Care Routine
Make a Successful Chore Chart
3 Ohio’s New Texting and Driving Law
Apple-Rhubarb Crisp
4 Combating Spring Allergies
Remove pollen from indoor air. It’s inevitable that pollen will get inside your home and vehicle. To combat this, utilize your air conditioning or invest in a certified allergy air filter! A dehumidifier and/or an air purifier will help to lower the pollen spore count in the air. Rinse out your sinuses. When pollen overwhelms your sinus passages, one of the best things to do is to rinse out your airways. A sinus flush with a saline solution is one of the easiest and most effective ways to eliminate the pollen that irritates your respiratory system.
Spring has arrived! However, rebirth and renewal aren’t the only things in the air. During spring, trees, weeds, plants, and grasses release small grains of pollen into the air to fertilize other plants. Because the pollen is small and light, it travels through the wind and frequently causes allergic reactions. Symptoms of seasonal allergies include congestion, sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, an itchy throat, watering eyes, and irritation in the roof of your mouth. If you’re prone to experiencing allergies all spring long, here are some useful tips to keep them at bay. Reduce your exposure. During spring months, keep the windows in your home and car closed. On particularly windy or dry days, avoid spending time outdoors, and do not hang your clean laundry outside to dry. After you have been outdoors, remove your clothing and wash your hair and skin to remove any traces of pollen. Do not cut the grass, pull weeds, or do any gardening.
WHEN POLLEN STRIKES Nipping Spring Allergies in the Bud
Take over-the-counter medications.
After checking with your doctor or health care provider, choose an over-the-counter medication that is right for your symptoms. Medications like oral antihistamines, oral decongestants, and corticosteroid nasal sprays are all beneficial in reducing the effects of seasonal allergies.
4
Rinehardt Law | BeSmartLegal.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator