August 2024
Marking Milestones There is something about anniversary dates that end in “0.” They signify at least 10 years of something, and that is a very long time – ask my 10-year-old granddaughter! A few surprising anniversary dates have been occupying space in my head and heart this summer. It’s been 20 years since my dad, Excell, died, but he still feels so present to me. I cannot fully grasp how this much time has passed. Perhaps it is that we share a trait of strong personalities and presence. Or maybe it’s that my dad had colorful (and often unrepeatable) turns of phrase, which still make me laugh to this day. Of course, no close relationship is without its challenges. We both had ways in which we frustrated and disappointed each other. It’s easy to get hung up on these things. The picture I’ve shared in this article has inspired me to have a more textured perspective. It’s so clear to see we’re having a good time together! Dad, a new, doting father, and me, a carefree little one, happily soaking up the attention. I’m reminded of how it felt to get hugs or kisses from that scratchy beard. His deep voice (he never could really whisper). He used to say I was “like the son he never had” because I loved watching sports with him. It was a wonderful time together, and I developed an appreciation that has stayed with me all these years, especially for basketball. WORKSHOP Have you (or your clients) “been meaning” to get a plan in place? It’s easy to get started with our 7 Hazards to Your Estate Plan Workshop . This free workshop explains the key planning concepts, documents, and the factors in selecting a plan that is right for you. Plus, workshop participants receive a complimentary consultation with no obligation to retain our services. The workshop is available on demand or in person, so stop thinking about a plan and create one. Register online at PromiseLaw.com/Estate-Planning-Workshop or call (757) 690-2470.
Appreciating the Journey & Lessons Learned
To exist is a miracle. To exist in the same space with someone and share love is, too. By the time this article is in your hands, I will have visited Dad at the columbarium at St. Mark’s Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to acknowledge our shared love and time
together. It’s these shared moments of love and time that truly make life meaningful and connect us to each other in profound ways, which brings me to another “0” milestone this summer... It’s been 10 years since opening Promise Law. For 10 years, we’ve been helping families plan and take care of each other. I founded Promise Law to bring a uniquely positive and proactive approach to the practice of elder law. And why the name “Promise Law”? Well, I haven’t met anyone who wants to be thought of as elderly, and we have clients of all ages whom we help. Over time, we have shaped the practice to focus solely on estate planning and administration. Over these years, I’ve learned that to exist is a miracle in business, too, albeit a miracle nurtured with effort. At the same time, my mantra goal as team leader is to cultivate “joy and ease” in our work. Just hearing an aspiration like that can make your shoulders relax and help you feel better. It is also infectious and spills over into our direct work with clients. The challenge is maintaining this ethos amid nearly constant change. In this way, I have realized that while we deliver the same services as we did from day one, how we do things must be fluid. Systems and people must adjust. Another way I heard it said lately is this: practice makes more practice.
Thankfully, we have developed standards and systems honed and improved over time. I am grateful and appreciative of
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Virtual Museum Tours Make Art and History Accessible DIGITAL DISCOVERY
The priceless artwork, artifacts, and other attractions draw tourists worldwide to museums. However, not everyone can travel the globe to view the works of accomplished artists, curious historical figures, and inventions of esteemed engineers. Luckily, famed institutions like the Louvre in Paris; The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia; and Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C., all have something in common: Patrons can enjoy them online . The internet helps bring esteemed exhibitions to your browser, where you can take virtual tours free of charge . Here are three incredible museums with virtual tours for all to enjoy! The Louvre Built partly in the ruins of a 12th-century fortress, France’s national museum
and art gallery is the most popular destination of its kind. The French revolutionary government opened the Louvre in 1793, and Napoleon expanded it. Today, it houses some of the world’s most famous works of art, including Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” You can enjoy great swathes of its exhibits through virtual tours on its website. National Museum of Natural History Part of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the National Museum of Natural History is the most-visited natural history museum in the world . Its 1.5 million-square- foot grounds house a dizzying array of exhibits to delight visitors of all ages. Virtual tours are available on its
website and include spectacular views of its awe-inspiring exhibits. The State Hermitage Museum Founded by Catherine the Great in 1764, the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum is in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. Nicholas I and the Soviet Union, among others, have reconstructed and expanded it since then. While some of its works were sold to fund Soviet industrialization, it is still a tremendous beacon of art and culture. With political tension and despotic rule making it more difficult for those in the West to visit Russia at all , its virtual tours, which you can find on Google’s Arts and Culture website, are the safest way to view its contents.
PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS
HARNESSING THE POWER OF A GROWTH MINDSET While there are no treadmills for the mind or ellipticals for our neurons, science tells us that mental exercise can help us obtain a growth mindset . The American Psychological Association
A growth mindset is the antithesis of a “fixed mindset,” which people exhibit when they quickly give up if they can’t solve a problem. Nurturing a growth mindset, in contrast, can help you view failure or setbacks as opportunities for learning. More Than Effort Having a growth mindset is about more than just effort. It is the belief that you can develop your abilities and talents, as well as a perspective on how you approach life’s lessons and learning. That belief allows you to learn more quickly and achieve greater results, no matter what you aim to achieve. This does not mean simply having an open mind; it also
means finding a way to continue striving to improve your knowledge, attitude, and performance. Some call it having “grit.” Cultivating Success With a growth mindset, success plays second fiddle to self-improvement. Celebrating the effort we put into each task motivates and encourages us to work harder and accomplish more in the future. Rather than focusing on the destination, the focus is on the journey. A growth mindset is a great way to become more positive, successful, and adaptable. By incorporating more facets of a growth mindset into your life, you will be well on your way to changing things for the better.
defines a growth mindset as “the belief that a person’s intelligence and abilities can grow and improve with practice.”
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Exploring the Origins of Secret Languages HIDDEN MEANING
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every hand that has been a part of the organization – past and present – helping us do this important work. Each team member contributes to helping our clients through their presence and positive energy, as well as through other innovations such as new systems or software. In this way, as people join or leave the organization, as pandemics upend the world, etc., our systems and processes remain on point to help us through the changes. Finally, a law firm wouldn’t be a law firm without clients to serve, so a huge thank you to our clients and referral partners for trusting us to do this important work. Your trust and support mean the world to us, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve you.
Secret languages, born from a mixture of pragmatism, seclusion, and boredom, are spoken and understood only by a select few. From Pig Latin uttered in schoolyards to whispers of Lunfardo in the prisons of Argentina, the secretive languages of the world have origins that may delight and surprise you. Boontling In Northern California, a small community speaks a unique amalgamation of an Appalachian dialect, Spanish, and the language of the Pomo tribe called Boontling. It originated in the late 19th or early 20th century in Boonville. There, you can find locals referring to doctors as shoveltooths and roaring flames as jeffers . It supposedly originated among the women and children who toiled in the local hop fields and quickly spread throughout the community. Somehow, despite existing only in a small farm town, it has an expansive 1,600-word vocabulary and around 100 fluent speakers! Pig Latin Ancay ouyay understandyay isthay entencesay? You may decipher that question if you remember Pig Latin from elementary school. Despite disagreements about its linguistic credibility, Pig Latin has existed since Shakespeare’s time (around 400 years ago). Ironically, it is completely unrelated to Latin, and the origin of its name is a mystery. Famous speakers of Pig Latin include founding father Thomas Jefferson, who reportedly wrote letters using the light-hearted language. Lunfardo This language is so secretive that it’s practically criminal . Lunfardo began in the prisons of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where inmates masked their words from the nosy guards. The language has components from Portuguese, Galician, French, and German. For example, if an inmate wanted to compliment a pretty woman, they would call them a papirusa , which means “beautiful woman.” These days, Lunfardo exists mainly in the lyrics of Argentine tango music.
Until the next milestone!
–Geneva N. Perry, Esq.
Not Your Average Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
• 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp salt • 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup butter, softened • 2 cups granulated sugar • 3 large eggs • 2 tsp vanilla extract • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. 2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended; then add vanilla extract. 5. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients; mix until blended. 6. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. 7. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 8. Cool in pans, then invert onto a plate. If desired, frost and stack the cakes for a double layer!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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The Importance of Acknowledging Milestones
Exploring Famous Museums Virtually
The Role of a Growth Mindset in Overcoming Challenges
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Not Your Average Chocolate Cake
Decoding the World’s Secret Languages
The Truth About France’s Marie Antoinette
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HEADLESS OF STATE Facts About the Late French Queen Marie Antoinette
Cake: Not on the Menu Although many ascribe the infamous words, “Let them eat cake,” to Marie Antoinette, she likely never uttered them at all. Many other royals, including the French noblewoman Marie Therese more than a century earlier, had been credited with uttering the notorious sentence. So, someone else had likely said it before the French Revolution ever happened. Young Newlyweds Talk about a crowded household: Marie Antoinette was the 11th daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I, the head of the powerful and influential Habsburg dynasty. She did not spend many years at home, however, because she was just 14 years old when she married the future king of France, Louis XVI.
While France may be known for its artwork, culture, and cuisine, the French Revolution was anything but beautiful, cultured, or tasteful. Instead, it was a brutal, vengeful affair, culminating in the ruthless execution of the French royal family and the end of their royal line. One of the most famous characters from this brutal time was the French queen, Marie Antoinette. She became a symbol for all complaints levied against the French throne, from extravagant spending to their brutal crackdowns on dissent, even though she wasn’t the actual perpetrator. In the end, it didn’t matter. Marie Antoinette, at age 37, was beheaded by guillotine in October 1793. Here are three true facts about Marie Antoinette.
Faux Farmer Despite her regal estate and lavish lifestyle, one of Marie Antoinette’s favorite pastimes was pretending to work as a farmer. She had an entire fake farm built on the grounds of her palace in Versailles, where she and other noblewomen would dress in costumes and pretend to be sheepherders and milkmaids.
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