July 2018
Coye Law Chronicle
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Never Quit, Never Surrender
A TRIBUTE TO MY BROTHER
Mental illness touches all of our lives. It’s not always easy to talk about, but it’s important to address it openly and honestly. For too long, our society refused to publicly acknowledge mental health in any sort of nuanced way. It was spoken about only behind closed doors or ignored entirely. Thankfully, that’s changing, and we have better support systems than ever before. With that in mind, I want to tell you a little bit about my brother, Brad. He recently passed away and suffered from schizophrenia for his entire adult life. To be honest, I struggled for a long time deciding if I wanted to share Brad’s story in the newsletter. After much thought, I came to the conclusion that many of you reading this piece may have had a similar experience with a friend or family member, and it would be worthwhile to do my absolute best to pay tribute to Brad. Brad was younger than me by three years, and we spent much of our childhood side by side along with my youngest brother, Dave. Whether it was working for my dad, doing our weekly paper route, or trapping furs, we did everything together. Brad was a driven, disciplined kid, a great student with a love for basketball. In every way, he lived the life of a normal young man with a promising future. But that all changed during his freshman year in college. For reasons that will never be totally clear, Brad experienced a psychotic break. It was like his entire personality changed in an instant. I remember when he came to visit me and I realized just how
seriously ill he had become. It was shocking, sad, and overwhelming. One day, Brad was your average college student; the next, he thought God was speaking to him through the TV. As you can probably imagine, my parents were very worried and knew they needed to seek help for their son. It didn’t take long for doctors to diagnose Brad with schizophrenia. He was prescribed a spate of serious antipsychotic medications with unbelievable side effects, which allowed him to function. That said, normalcy would never return. Between the effects of his condition and the side effects of his medication, part of Brad was lost forever. You’d still see glimpses of his former self, but the course of his life changed drastically. Nevertheless, Brad went about living the best life he could. After he graduated college, he was adamant that he wasn’t “living with Mommy and Daddy.” Through his immense self-discipline, which never went away, he graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He was able to live independently and hold down a job for 30 years. It would be dishonest to say that Brad’s life was ideal — it was mostly a solitary experience, without friends or much social contact — but there was a small dose of joy to go along with all the struggle. My parents were always there to support my brother. On multiple occasions, Brad had to be hospitalized against his will, which must have been awful for my parents. Brad didn’t always know what he was going through — such is the nature of
schizophrenia — but Mom and Dad always did. No matter how stressful and difficult their lives became, they always put Brad’s best interests first. It’s a testament to who they are as people that they never considered for a moment that they wouldn’t be there for him. I hope that Brad has found the peace that eluded him during his time on earth. It seems so far away and long ago that we first lost him to the ravages of his illness, but losing him again brought back the vivid memories of who he was and what parts of him remained. I’ve had other clients and friends with similar circumstances share remarkably similar stories of the promises lost to mental illness. I loved Brad deeply and learned so much from him. Nobody’s life is perfect, and some of us have it harder than others. Brad never surrendered to the challenges of his illness — he never asked for a thing from anyone and refused everyone’s help when in need. That being said, we’re all capable of putting forth the effort to make the most of our circumstances. Brad certainly did, and that’s what I’ll always remember most about him.
–Wade Coye
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Learning That Doesn’t Feel Like School
Every summer, parents across the country have to deal with the same delicate problem. They want to make sure their kids continue to learn without feeling like they’re being assigned tasks. After all, summer homework is every child’s worst nightmare. Luckily, you don’t have to rely on math problems and book reports to keep your child’s development from taking a two-month vacation. Here are a few mentally stimulating activities that are as educational as they are fun. FOR LITTLE ONES: HOMEMADE BUBBLES Bubbles fascinate young children, so why not spend a day making your own solution and experimenting by blowing different types of bubbles? The formula is simple: 1 part dish soap (Dawn or Joy work best) to 10 parts water. Optionally, you can also include 1/4 part glycerin. The process of making the solution will teach ratios, and finding creative ways to blow bubbles fosters problem-solving skills and creative thinking. FOR TEENAGERS: FAMILY DINNER PARTY Cooking teaches so many important skills: math, science, nutrition, concentration, cultural
understanding, following directions, creativity, time management, and more. Even better, it doesn’t feel like learning; it feels like fun. Encourage your older children to take the reins for preparing regular meals throughout the summer. You can pick guiding themes, like “a trip to Mexico” or “pasta party,” but let them choose the recipes and prep the meals on their own. FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY: AN EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIP Field trips always inspire excitement in students, and you’ll find the same goes for your family members. You can tailor your destination to the interests of your kids for maximum engagement. If you have a family of art lovers, head to a museum for some inspiration and discussion. Kids who prefer the outdoors will enjoy a nature walk or hike. You can bring along a field guide to identify flora and fauna. These trips may not pack the thrill of a water park, but they’re fun in an entirely different way.
Share the Road and Follow the Law BICYCLE SAFETY TIPS
The city also advises cyclists to ride predictably . Riders shouldn’t swerve unexpectedly, enter intersections without first checking traffic, or snake between parked cars. Cyclists should use audible warnings, in the form of a bell or their voice, to alert pedestrians when they are approaching. We would like to add that riders shouldn’t assume they
With more bike lanes, the Juice bike-sharing program, and urban trails, it’s never been a better time to traverse Orlando on two wheels. That said, bicyclists still have to share the road with some of the busiest car traffic in the nation, so it’s important to stay safe while pedaling. The city of Orlando has a five-point program for safe riding practices. First, they recommend you ride on the right , moving in the same direction as traffic and staying as far to the right as practically possible. Second, bikers must follow all of the same traffic laws as cars , including signaling when turning and stopping for red lights. Riders should also make every effort to be visible by wearing brightly colored clothing and making eye contact with motorists. For those riding at night, Florida law requires cyclists to use a white light on the front of their bike and a red light on the back of it.
know how a motorist will behave. Leaving yourself an escape route in the event of an unpredictable vehicle could be the difference between a serious accident and a near miss. Finally, the city recommends that all riders wear a proper-fitting helmet . While it is only legally required for those under the age of 16, it’s good practice for anybody who navigates Orlando on two wheels. As injury attorneys, it’s important for us to add that not wearing a helmet does not disqualify you from filing a claim in the event of an accident. However, it may impact the amount of money you receive. In general, the safer you are, the strong your claim will be. Also, it’s just good common sense to wear a helmet. Sadly, even the safest bicyclists on the road can’t guarantee they’ll never be involved in an accident. If you have been injured while biking, call the Coye Law Firm today to see how we can help.
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How ‘Radical Candor’ Can Guide Your Team to Success
LEADERSHIP EXPERT KIM SCOTT’S FANTASTIC NEW BOOK
At the outset of our careers, when we’re learning to jockey for a position in the workforce and master the concepts that will carry us to success, many of us immediately begin to absorb the wrong kind of thinking. In the midst of youth, when our egos are paper-thin and we haven’t yet fully developed our personalities, business culture comes along and tells us to “be professional.”
“For an awful lot of people, that gets translated to mean ‘leave your emotions, leave your true identity, leave everything that is best about you … and come to work like some kind of robot,’” said Kim Scott, bestselling author of “Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity,” at a recent Qualtrics X4 event. But to be the best possible asset to your team, she argues that you need to genuinely care about others — you need to “be able to bring your whole self to work and to create the kind of environment in which everyone around you can do the same.” This ability to “Care Personally,” writes Scott in her book, is the first key principle leaders need to understand in order to succeed as bosses. Though movies about Wall Street may teach us otherwise, it’s difficult to succeed in today’s collaborative business world without genuinely investing yourself in meaningful relationships. But as Scott is eager to point out, love alone won’t push your team to new heights. You also need to “Challenge Directly” — to be honest with those who depend on you by letting them know when they’re
leaving their potential untapped or shirking their responsibilities. This “brutal honesty” doesn’t have to be brutal at all; instead, it should be direct, clear, and compassionate. At the intersection of “Care Personally” and “Challenge Directly” lies the concept of “Radical Candor,” a framework that allows bosses to build two things: an empowered culture of honest feedback around the office and a team that works well together and is eager to achieve fantastic results. If you’re interested in learning how to be a more effective leader but are uncomfortable with the manipulative strategies espoused in so much of business culture, you can’t do better than Kim Scott’s book. It’s chock-full of actionable advice on how to start treating your team not only as employees, but as people , with all the emotions, aspirations, challenges, and potential that they bring.
BLUE CHEESE BUFFALO DOGS AND CELERY SLAW
Ingredients
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2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
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1 package of your favorite hot dogs
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1 teaspoon olive oil
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1 package hot dog buns
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Celery salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
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1 bottle Frank’s RedHot sauce
Coye Law Firm’s Referral All-Stars!
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4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
For Celery Slaw: •
Every month, we give a big shoutout to clients who gave us referrals. This month, we’d like to recognize ...
4 celery stalks, very thinly sliced
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1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
Directions
Angela Weiss Ben Johnson
Howard Grossman Alaina Moore
1. For slaw, toss all ingredients together and season with celery salt and pepper. 2. Grill hot dogs and toast buns. 3. Assemble hot dogs, douse with hot sauce, and top with celery slaw. 4. Top with blue cheese, add another splash of hot sauce if you’re feeling extra spicy, and serve.
Thank you all for trusting us with the legal needs of your family and friends!
Inspired by Bon Appetit magazine
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T H I S I S S U E
Learning From Brad
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02 Summer-Worthy Learning Opportunities Stay Safe While Biking
Kim Scott’s ‘Radical Candor’ Blue Cheese Buffalo Dogs and Celery Slaw
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04 Central Florida’s Best Public Parks
3 Great Public Parks
CENTRAL PARK 150 W. Morse Boulevard, Winter Park As you can probably tell from the name, Central Park is the most prominent public space in Winter Park. It’s located right near the city’s main shopping district, making it ideal for a quick rest between grabbing lunch and exploring the street. On any given day, you can expect to stumble upon a cool event in Central Park, especially during the summer. The city also hosts the free Popcorn Flicks in the Park series throughout the season. Got to enzian.org for a full list of screening dates and movie selections.
One of the great aspects of living in Central Florida is, of course, the weather. Our sunny clime draws millions of people every year looking to make the most of their summer vacations. While the theme parks may get most of the attention from tourists, locals know that our public parks are some of the best places to spend your leisure time. Here are three of our favorites in Orange County.
swans, and an iconic fountain. Visitors can rent swan boats to paddle around the lake, run laps on the track encircling the park, or catch a show at the Walt Disney Amphitheater. Lake Eola Park is also home to the Orlando Farmers Market, held every Sunday.
LAKE UNDERHILL PARK 4335 Lake Underhill Road, Orlando
Also located within the city, Lake Underhill Park offers a more rustic experience than Lake Eola. With a trail featuring eight fitness stations, it’s the perfect place to work out in the sunshine. It also includes acres of green space and a public boat ramp. You can fish the lake, do some birdwatching, and burn some calories all in one afternoon.
LAKE EOLA PARK 512 E. Washington Street, Orlando
Lake Eola is located in the center of downtown and is a relaxing getaway in the heart of a thriving city. The mix of urban and natural combines breathtaking skyline views with flowerbeds,
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