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The Medlin News
DECEMBER 2023
How to Make the Most of Today for a Better Tomorrow The Power of Taking Life One Day at a Time
Plan out your days. If you’re taking things a day at a time, those days are typically most successful when you know how to spend them. You don’t need to buy a planner or download an app, but before you go to bed each night, outline in your mind the things you want to accomplish the next day. Tackle the tough tasks first. Whether you’re at work or just have a laundry list of things to do, identify the tasks you feel are the most challenging or you want to do the least — and knock them out first. Doing this will free up mental space and ensure they don’t fester and complicate the rest of your day. Find time to do at least one thing you like. While it’s crucial to set goals and work toward them to improve, finding something to enjoy each day is equally important. So, even with a busy schedule, take just 10 minutes to do something only for you. Listen to your favorite playlist, read a few pages of a book you enjoy, feel the sun on your face, or have a snack you love. No matter what you do, make sure it’s just for you! I hope these tips are helpful; putting these all into practice really helped me overcome my injury. I might have been discouraged had I known how tough the recovery
This year, on Thursday, Dec. 21, the world will experience the shortest day of the year, known as the winter solstice. This information can cause some people a lot of grief because, while the winter solstice only affects our daylight hours, it gets people thinking of how little time they may have left to accomplish specific goals. I’m not immune to this feeling, especially with 2023 ending. But the more I think about this dilemma, the more I’m reminded of the saying, “Take it one day at a time.” Whether they’re New Year’s resolutions or goals we give ourselves for other reasons, many of us juggle multiple objectives and projects simultaneously. Even though we create these goals to help us improve, facing these challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming, making it hard to accomplish them. However, I’ve found that breaking down these goals — or taking them just one day at a time — can be the key to crossing the finish line. Another saying goes, “There is only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time.” This means you can conquer any large goal, project, or problem by focusing on your progress each day. You can make those big goals less overwhelming by simply concentrating on what you can accomplish today or tomorrow instead of the next year or a few months. For example, if you have a goal to lose 20 pounds next year, that can seem daunting. But what about saying, “Today, my goal is to exercise for one hour and eat dark green veggies with one meal.” The likely result is losing 20 pounds, which seems way more manageable. So, as you take your goals, projects, problems, or life in general one day at a time, consider a few pointers I’ve found helpful over the years.
would actually be. However, as I dealt with it one day at a time, I discovered I could make progress and achieve my goals, and you can, too.
– Gary L. Medlin, Esq.
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A DREAMER’S GUIDE: THE LINK BETWEEN SLEEP POSITIONS AND DREAMS
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!
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.
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.
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
Welcoming Lorely Bracho OUR NEWEST IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY MAKING WAVES!
Medlin Law would officially like to welcome our newest attorney, Lorely Bracho, to the team! Lorely joined us on Oct. 9 this year and is already off to a flying start with multiple case wins! Lorely was born in Venezuela before coming to the United States and speaks English and Spanish. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in Latin American studies from the University of Miami, Florida. Before attending law school, she also worked at the Venezuelan Mission to the United Nations, participating in various committees, summits, and multicultural events. Then, Lorely obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Tulsa, College of Law, where she was Vice President/
founding member of the Latino Law Student Organization, member of the Immigration Law Student Association, Associate Editor of the Energy Law Journal, and Board of Advocates member. Lorely is one of our incredible immigration attorneys and has extensive experience with family-based and removal defense immigration. Lawyers like her help reunite families who have been separated due to legal immigration issues as well as ensure people who have a right to stay here are not wrongfully deported. They are pillars who stand for fairness, compassion, social justice, and human rights and ultimately help us create a more inclusive and just society.
the amazing things she’ll do here! And, of course, if you or anyone you know requires legal assistance with an immigration issue, we encourage you to give Lorely a call. You can always reach her by contacting our office at 682-499-9222.
We’re so grateful to have Lorely on our team, and we look forward to seeing all
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Spread Holiday Cheer Without Breaking the Bank Creative Ways to Give Back This Season The holiday season is an excellent opportunity to catch up with loved ones, relish some time away from work, and enjoy delicious foods. It’s also the perfect time of year to give back to others in need. In fact, 10% of all giving for the entire year occurs Dec. 29–31!
this has on you is you may need to shop for more soap, toothpaste, or whatever else sooner, but it won’t cost you anything now.
If you are open to spending a little money, you can also purchase toys, shoes, books, or other items and donate those, too. While these items aren’t necessary to survive, they can make nice gifts and help someone through a hard time.
Volunteer your time. Believe it or not, one of the most precious things you can give to others this season isn’t money — it’s your time. You can volunteer at a local animal shelter, homeless shelter, soup kitchen, or other charitable events that impact our community by taking a few hours out of your day.
However, during a season where spending is already up, many families aren’t able to give big donations to charities, even if they would like to. But this doesn’t mean giving back has to be off the table; you can help those in need in many other ways without writing a big check this year! Here’s how. Donate items to your local shelter. As we said, giving back during the holidays doesn’t have to be some extravagant gift. Some people are looking for help in getting their basic necessities covered. If you have any extra bars of soap, tubes of toothpaste, sanitary products, or other hygiene items around your house, gather them up and donate them to a shelter. The only impact
Leave positive reviews for your favorite local small businesses.
Small businesses don’t have the marketing power or money to put out fancy commercials or ads like the chains do, and more often than not, they rely on word of mouth to keep their business afloat. So, if you want to give back and help someone, take an hour out of your day and list your favorite small businesses you patronize. Then, head over to their Google Reviews or Yelp pages and let others know how fantastic those places are. Doing this can go a long way!
CHICKEN, LEEK, AND BLUE CHEESE PILAF
Ingredients
• 2 1/2 cups water • 1/2 cup brown basmati rice • 2 tsp vegetable bouillon powder • 1 bay leaf • 1 tsp grapeseed oil • 2 skinless chicken breasts, chopped
• 1 leek, thinly sliced • 2 zucchini, thinly sliced • 1 cup frozen peas • 4 walnut halves, broken • 1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
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.
For resources, practice areas, and more, scan the QR code to visit our website, MedlinFirm.com.
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1300 South University Drive Suite 318 Fort Worth, TX 76107 682-499-9222 www.MedlinFirm.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Eating the Elephant, One Bite at a Time
2. Sleep Position Secrets
Medlin Law’s Newest Addition: Lorely Bracho, Advocate for Immigration Rights
3.
Making a Difference During the Holidays: How to Give Back Without Spending Big
Chicken, Leek, and Blue Cheese Pilaf
4. Discover the Most Enchanting Christmas Towns in the US
Explore America’s Most Magical Christmas Towns FROM SNOWY VILLAGES TO YEAR-ROUND HOLIDAY CHEER
It may be too late for less spontaneous travelers to start planning a Christmas vacation. But that shouldn’t stop you from planning next year’s holiday journey! The good news is you don’t need to venture to another continent to find a Christmas wonderland. There are countless picture- perfect Christmas towns across the country. Make your next Christmas trip feel like a Hallmark movie at one of these festive towns! Leavenworth, Washington Many have dubbed Leavenworth the most Christmas-centric in the U.S., and it’s easy to see why. This Bavarian-style village experiences nearly 96 inches of snowfall
every year, and they certainly don’t hold back when it comes to the holidays. The town lights up and decorates almost 21 miles, where you can find reindeer farms, carolers, gingerbread competitions, and Christmas markets. Every step of the way offers an Instagram-worthy photo opportunity! Solvang, California A slice of Denmark right in sunny California, Solvang brings endless holiday cheer, especially with their annual Julefest. Pronounced “Yule-fest,” this month-long festival takes place every December and features picturesque events, including a ballerina-filled tree lighting ceremony, visits from Santa, culinary delights, traditional Danish celebrations, and much more! Woodstock, Vermont During Woodstock’s Wassail Weekend, you’ll find the town in peak Christmas mode, where you can experience parades,
horse-drawn carriages, carolers, and the Billings Farm, a local favorite of the season. Stroll down Main Street to witness an idyllic Christmas spot filled with cozy small-town shops and restaurants. North Pole, Alaska If you ever feel like celebrating Christmas in the middle of summer, we know the perfect destination. North Pole, Alaska, offers Christmas decor and festivities year-round! Here, you can get up close and personal with Santa’s reindeer, meet the man himself, and enjoy the snow that covers the entire town. Be sure to check out their ice sculpture competition, which features artists from all over the world! Ready for the Christmas celebration of your dreams? Start planning your next holiday vacation at any of these destinations, and we promise your dreams will most definitely come true!
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