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December 2023
Increase Your Chances of Success With New Year’s Resolutions!
2 HELPFUL BOOKS ON THE SCIENCE OF HABIT
As we approach the end of the year, it’s the time when people start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Surveys show that about 40% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. And of those who make resolutions, only about 9% of those keep them. In fact, about 25% of folks who make resolutions have dismissed them by the first week of January, and about 50% abandon their resolutions by the end of January. This isn’t too surprising. Keeping resolutions is hard work. In fact, there is a fair amount of science behind how we can change our habits and resolutions. If you learn about this science, you have a much better shot at sticking to your New Year’s resolution. This year, if you’re serious about making and keeping a New Year’s resolution, I’d encourage you to read one of two books (or both!). The first book I recommend is the New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way To Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by author James Clear. The premise of Atomic Habits is that you have to make small, incremental changes that compound on themselves to create meaningful change in behavior. To start with, he says that building a habit can be divided into 4 steps: (1) cue; (2) craving; (3) response; and (4) reward. For example, in the bad habit of checking your phone, he says the four steps are (1) the text message notification rings; (2) you have a craving to check your messages; (3) you grab your phone and read the message; (4) you satisfy your craving and grabbing your phone becomes a habit associated with hearing the notification. The rest of the book discusses his laws of how to create a good habit or how to break a bad habit, using this framework. For creation of a good habit, you must (1) make the cue obvious; (2) make the craving attractive; (3) make the response easy; and (4) make the reward satisfying. To break a bad habit, you must (1) make the cue invisible — this is the most powerful way to break a bad habit — just move the cue (the phone dinging, the cookies in the house, etc.); (2) make the craving unattractive; (3) make the response difficult; and (4) make
the reward unsatisfying. He then sets out rules about how to use this science to change our habits so that we can keep our resolutions.
I can’t summarize the entire book in two paragraphs here, and it sounds more complicated than it is. But if you are interested in resolutions, then you should consider reading the book. And if you don’t want to read the entire book, I have a short two-page summary that outlines some of the highlights of the book. If you want a copy, email me at brooks@civtrial.com, and I’ll send it to you. The second book, which is also based on the idea that small, easy changes can have big effects, is Streaking: The Simple Practice Of Conscious, Consistent Actions That Create Life-Changing Results by Jeffery and Jami Downs. This book suggests that the best way to make changes is to create a streak of doing something laughably simple on a regular basis (once a day, once a week, once a month, etc.) and to document your streaks in a journal. This could be a pledge to do three pushups a day, drink one less Coke a day, etc. Then, as you keep your streak alive, you’ll expand the activities from three pushups to 5–7 and then beyond. I have a lawyer friend who swears by Streaking , and his streaks include doing at least one car cleaning activity per day (pick up some trash, etc.) and learning one new German word per day. Again, if you’re interested in New Year’s resolutions, I encourage you to read the book. Or, I also have a short summary of this book that I’ve put together as well. If you want that, just email me. I hope you have a great new year, and if you’re the resolution type, I hope one (or both) of these books can help you be one of the 9% of folks who actually follow-through with their resolutions.
- Brooks Schuelke
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Keep Your Vehicle Safe and Secure During the Holidays Outsmart Car Thieves:
Hide valuables. Thieves are more likely to target a vehicle if they can see something of value inside. Before leaving your car, stow away shopping bags, electronics, purses, and other tempting items in the trunk or out of sight. Even loose change or charging cables can attract unwanted attention. Use your garage. A locked garage provides an added layer of security for your vehicle. Ensure the garage doors are in good working order and equipped with strong locks. Get to know your car’s security features. Modern vehicles have lots of security features, such as secondary car alarms, kill switches, and tracking systems, so learn how to activate them. Before leaving your car unattended, ensure your car’s security system is active and all doors and windows are properly secured. Invest in a steering wheel lock. Steering wheel locks, also known as “club” locks, are classic anti- theft tools. They make it much more challenging for criminals to drive away with your vehicle by not allowing your steering wheel to be turned. While that may seem old-fashioned, they still get the job done! Be alert after parking. In parking lots and garages, when walking away from your vehicle, scan the area for anyone loitering. Criminals tend to be on the lookout for individuals who are not paying attention to their surroundings. If you notice anything that doesn’t look or feel right, move your vehicle to a safer location. Don’t leave your car running unattended. During winter months, it’s tempting to warm up your car while you wait inside. However, leaving your vehicle running on its own is an open invitation to thieves. Always stay with your car when it’s running or invest in a remote starter that allows you to start your car without a key. Keep in mind that prevention is essential for a worry-free and secure holiday season! Don’t become another statistic — protect your vehicle from criminals and ward off theft by keeping these simple tips in mind.
The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and giving, but unfortunately, it’s also a time for car thefts and break-ins. In fact, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day have the highest reports of vehicle theft. During the holiday season, thieves know that vehicles may be packed with valuable gifts and see your car as an opportunity to get rich. To keep your car and belongings safe this season, here are nine precautions you can take. Park wisely. Choosing where and how you park your car can make a significant difference in its safety. Dim and isolated areas are more inviting to thieves, so when possible, opt for well-lit and busy areas to increase the chances of bystanders spotting a potential burglar. When parking in a lot or garage, consider proximity to your destination as well as security cameras and personnel. Lock it up. It may sound obvious, but many car thefts occur because owners forget to lock their vehicles. Always double-check that your car is securely locked, and don’t rely solely on remote key fobs. Criminals can use technology to intercept these signals — instead, use traditional key locks if your car has them.
Be smart with the spare key. According to the NICB, 69,351 vehicle thefts took place in the U.S. in 2016 because drivers left their spare keys or fob in the car. Leaving your keys in your car just makes vehicle theft easier, so keep your spares safe at home or in your pocket.
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TAKE A BREAK
Holiday celebrations are some of the most exciting moments for kids, be it trick-or-treating or tearing open Christmas presents. But properly celebrating New Year’s Eve may be a struggle for the little ones. If you’ve let your kids try to stay up until midnight in previous years, you may have experienced sleepiness, tantrums, and cranky mornings the next day, which isn’t the best way to start the new year. Well, this time around, you can be better prepared! Thanks to countless clever parents sharing their tips and tricks, we’ve compiled the most genius hacks that will make this New Year’s Eve not just kid-friendly but actually fun! A little secret won’t hurt ’em. Have you tried a faux countdown? You can save yourself the headache entirely by implementing a little white lie. Changing all the clocks forward isn’t exactly new, but now, with the help of streaming services and YouTube, you can make a bulletproof fake countdown. At your preferred bedtime, play last year’s New Year’s Eve countdown on the TV. Amp up the celebrations with a rowdy countdown, cheering, and glasses of sparkling apple cider! Then, bring the festivities to an end and get your kids ready for bed. It’s as easy as that! If they do stay up, make it fun! Of course, if you would rather stay up with your children, feel bad lying, or don’t think you could pull the wool over their eyes, then here are some creative ways to keep them entertained until midnight without a meltdown. • Number colorful balloons and let your children pop one every 30 minutes or hour. You can even fill the final balloon with confetti to celebrate New Year’s Day! • Have everyone dress up fancy to make Smart Strategies for a Kid- Friendly New Year’s Eve Party Make It to the Countdown Without a Meltdown
SKILLET CHICKEN POT PIE
Inspired by TheModernProper.com
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup butter • 1 cup chopped onion • 1 cup sliced celery • 2 cups sliced carrots • 1/2 cup flour • 1 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp pepper • 1/2 tsp celery seed
• 1 tsp garlic powder • 1 cup milk • 2 cups chicken stock • 2 cups peas • 4 cups cooked chicken • 1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed • 1 egg
your at-home party feel more like a New York celebration.
• Create a bucket list
together for everything you want to do in 2024.
• Get outside and play with sparklers! • Every hour, turn off the
Directions 1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. In 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat, melt butter, then add onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté for 5 minutes. 3. Add flour, salt, pepper, celery seed, and garlic powder to pan and stir. Sauté for 2 minutes. Slowly incorporate milk. 4. Add stock and bring to a simmer, whisking until mixture thickens. Add peas and chicken. 5. Roll out pastry sheet into 16-inch square on floured surface. Cut into 3-inch squares and place overlapping onto chicken mixture. 6. In a small bowl, whisk egg with 1 tbsp water. Brush egg over pastry and place in oven for 25 minutes or until golden and bubbling.
lights, play a song, and crack some glow sticks for a dance party! • Make fun and easy party appetizers together. • Look through old photos and videos of the past year together.
When you plan ahead, you can ensure your kids have enough activities to make it to midnight without any hassle. Of course, the fake countdown is always an option, too!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Have More Success With Your New Year’s Resolutions
1
9 Essential Car Security Tips for the Holidays
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3
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
Genius Hacks to Celebrating New Year’s Eve With Kids
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Michael Oher’s Fight for Justice in ‘The Blind Side’ Controversy The Tuohy Family vs. Michael Oher:
A Legal Showdown
The story of how Michael Oher went from a young homeless boy to an NFL star captured the hearts of many and inspired the critically acclaimed 2009 film “The Blind Side.” However, behind the heartwarming tale lies a complex legal battle between Michael Oher and the Tuohy family, who adopted him during his teenage years. Oher alleges that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy misled him into accepting a conservatorship instead of adoption and that he never received fair compensation for his portrayal in the movie. In his petition filed in a Tennessee court, Oher seeks to end the Tuohy family’s conservatorship over him and requests a full accounting of any funds he should have received. In response to the petition, the Tuohys expressed their heartbreak over the situation while accusing Oher of demanding $15 million and threatening negative press coverage if they didn’t comply.
in the claim that they led him to believe he was signing adoption papers when, in reality, they were for a conservatorship. This legal arrangement gave the Tuohys significant control over Oher’s life, his story, and the substantial financial gains resulting from it. Oher asserts he did not receive what he was rightfully owed. Oher’s lawsuit is not only about financial matters but also the emotional stress that came with recently learning he was not legally a member of the Tuohy family, which he had believed for years. Furthermore, the case brings into question the safeguards for young individuals who may enter into legal agreements without a complete understanding of their implications. Seeing how this blockbuster lawsuit shakes out in the coming months and what the verdict means for other young people in similar situations will be interesting.
Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy claim they have always been upfront with Oher about the conservatorship and that they have split all profits from “The Blind Side” equally with Oher. Still, the heart of Oher’s lawsuit lies
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