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THE KRAMER CHRONICLES WHAT ARE YOUR CHANCES OF FINDING IT? DO YOU BELIEVE IN LUCK? 03.19 WWW.KRAMERLAWGROUP.ORG | 801.601.1229
T he first time I really sat down and pondered the idea of luck, I was in the third grade. The fields in my hometown were filled with clovers, and I’d heard that if I was able to find one with four leaves, I’d be eternally lucky. For several hours after school, I sprawled out in a field, scouring the chunks of green for the special clover that would give me my lucky break. To this day, I’ve never found one. While my belief in fortune-filled foliage has certainly waned in recent years, I still believe in luck. But what I’ve realized is that luck tends to favor some people over others. I once heard the adage, “The people who work the hardest tend to be the luckiest,” a quote I’ve found to be extremely true in both my personal and professional experiences. While a select few can still win hefty sums playing scratchers or guessing the correct lottery numbers, general good fortune in life stems from preparation and work ethic. If your financial future is based on winning the lottery, you’ll always end up disappointed. But if you spend years in school earning your degree or completing all the planning necessary for starting a new business or career, your chance of success — financial or otherwise — is exponentially greater.
before bed, I write down all that I am grateful for that day. I typically only fill up 4–5 lines, so the process doesn’t take up too much time, but I’ve found that the activity has served as a huge catalyst for my daily joy. In doing so, I’ve realized how much I have to be thankful for even on some of my most difficult days.
“IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE, YOU’LL HAVE AN EASIER TIME FINDING THEM.”
When you take a step back and really reflect on your life, all the good parts come into clearer focus. For example, I wake up with a roof over my head and food in my cupboards, then I drive to work in my own vehicle, wearing my own clothes. While these are all basic necessities, they're still items I make sure to include in my gratitude journal. This discipline has helped me to attract more positivity in my own life by forcing me to pay attention to everything I already have and take
In addition to planning, I believe good luck requires an optimistic mindset. If you start your day believing it will be great regardless of the circumstances, you will be more inclined
notice of life's potential. Say I need to go grocery shopping and I find a great parking spot, or say I’m running late to work and all the traffic lights are green — to me, once gratitude is at the forefront of your mind, you realize how often good things happen to you. While I was never able to find a four-leaf clover, my belief in luck hasn’t subsided. Now I just look at it from a more nuanced standpoint. Whether or not you plan to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this month, I encourage you to consider starting a gratitude journal. Who knows? Maybe it will change your perspective on luck entirely!
to take notice of the positive changes that occur in your life, regardless of how subtle they might be. In short, if you’re looking for the good things in life, you’ll have an easier time finding them.
In an attempt to maintain my own optimistic mindset, I have started a
daily practice of writing in what I call my “gratitude journal.” The notebook itself isn’t anything fancy; I just went to Walmart and purchased a small and simple yearly journal. Then, either in the morning before I leave for work or at night
–Ron Kramer
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As the spring sunshine starts poking its way through the dreary winter clouds, you might find yourself feeling more inclined to leave your cozy blanket and favorite Netflix show behind and hit the pavement for walks with family, friends, and pets. Unfortunately, the increase in these sidewalk journeys causes a spike in the number of pedestrian-related accidents. According to the National Safety Administration, there is one new pedestrian victim every seven minutes. This statistic includes accidents that occurred while rollerblading, skateboarding, running, and walking. Due to pedestrians’ total lack of protection, even minor accidents can cause severe injuries. Most of these accidents occur as a result of distracted driving. Yes, pedestrians can be difficult to see at night, but many drivers spend time texting or talking on the phone during their commute home from work, and these distractions heighten the possibility of accidents. Additionally, many drivers are unaware of laws enacted to protect pedestrians. These laws require drivers to exercise “due care” to avoid endangering pedestrians, to yield to pedestrians at intersections and crosswalks, and to stop or slow down when passing a stopped vehicle to ensure the other driver isn’t waiting for a pedestrian to cross. Here at Kramer Law Group, we begin with a thorough investigation of the facts surrounding your crash. Then we reach out to experts in other fields: accident reconstruction specialists, physicians, and similar professionals. With their assistance, we build a strong case for securing the compensation HOW WE CAN HELP WITH PEDESTRIAN-RELATED ACCIDENTS! THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKIN’
ARE YOU READY FOR FIDO?
While we don’t know exactly why humans keep pets, one fact is certain: Millions of people love them. In fact, nearly 70 percent of households in the U.S. have a pet. But no matter what you see on your favorite dog Instagram accounts, keeping a pet isn’t endless playtime. Ask yourself the following questions before buying or adopting a furry companion. HOW TO DECIDE IF YOUR FAMILY CAN CARE FOR A PET Owning a pet can change your lifestyle. To start with, you will have to consider the animal’s well-being when hosting events or taking vacations. You will also have to make room in your budget for pet-related expenses. Additionally, some animals can live for upward of two decades. Discuss how responsibilities will change as a pet ages and what your future will look like before making the commitment. When choosing a pet for your family, gather research from animal experts and other pet owners. Calculate the cost of owning a pet, and evaluate how that animal will fit into your lifestyle. For example, dogs are one of the most high- maintenance and expensive animals to own, but they tend to be more involved in family life than a cat or a hamster. That said, your home’s size and location may make it better suited for a smaller pet, as many larger animals require more square footage and plenty of outdoor space. Every family is different, and it’s important to have an honest discussion about the implications of owning a pet. If you have kids, consider how much they will be able to contribute to such a responsibility. Another factor to consider is how much free time you have to spend with your pet; some animals require more attention than others. To avoid major conflict down the road, discuss care and responsibility plans as a family before welcoming an animal into your home. Keeping a pet can be a source of joy for your family, but it can also be a source of stress. Before making any major choice, talk to your family members and consider what owning a pet would mean for all of you. DOES AN ANIMAL FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE? IS YOUR FAMILY READY? DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING INTO?
you deserve. We have helped many victims of Utah pedestrian accidents handle their claim against the at-fault party’s insurance, even against bus companies, such as Greyhound and the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). Drivers must be aware of pedestrians and should be held accountable if their negligence causes harm to a pedestrian. Our clients can feel confident that we will recover payment for past and future medical bills, receive compensation for lost wages past and future, obtain fair compensation for pain and suffering and change in lifestyle, and hold the guilty party responsible for his or her actions. If you or someone you know was injured in a pedestrian-related accident, give our office a call today!
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AND WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH YOU? WHAT IS A POLAR VORTEX?
W hile we had a relatively mild winter in Utah this year, the Upper Midwest experienced a miserable polar vortex. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth’s poles. The vortex itself is the counterclockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air close to the poles. Occasionally, the vortex will expand and send cold air southward. This winter, the vortex sent a strong jet stream toward residents of the Upper Midwest and Canada. For several days in January, the temperatures dropped below -50 degrees! While we Utahans are sequestered safely away from the vortex’s reach, there are still winter dangers to keep in mind as the temperatures fluctuate this month. One of the biggest threats to driving safety is black ice, a type of ice that forms on wet roadways when temperatures drop at night. Black ice is made more dangerous by the fact that it’s invisible to the naked eye due to its dark hue — fully formed, it’s the same color as asphalt. Black ice is especially common in the Wellsville-Cache County area. In 2018, a number of crashes occurred as a result of black ice, several of which were on Route 89 between Sardine
Canyon and Logan. The icy road was responsible for sending at least a dozen vehicles off the highway.
While this icy threat is forming less often now that the spring weather is rolling in, the temperatures can still drop below freezing once the sun goes down. If you have an early-morning or late-night commute, practice defensive driving by only driving as fast as conditions allow. Make sure you keep a greater —
sometimes much greater — gap between you and the car in front of you so you can avoid a crash if that car happens to lose traction. And be
on the lookout for black ice. Although cold weather driving has its challenges, if you are prepared and use safe driving techniques, you can make it through to the warmer months, when driving is a little bit easier.
TAKE A BREAK
EVERYTHING POPCORN
INGREDIENTS
• 3/4 cup popcorn kernels • 2 tablespoons flaky sea salt • 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds • 2 teaspoons white sesame seeds
• 2 teaspoons granulated garlic • 2 teaspoons granulated onion • 1/3 cup canola oil • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
DIRECTIONS
1. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast sesame seeds. Shake skillet often and cook until white seeds are golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and add garlic, onion, and salt. 2. In a large saucepan, combine popcorn kernels and oil. Cook over medium- high heat, covered, until popcorn kernels start to pop. Once popping, continue cooking and shaking the pan intermittently until popping ceases, about 3–5 minutes. 3. Transfer popcorn to a large mixing bowl. Pour in butter and toss to coat. Finally, add seasoning, toss again, and serve.
Ash Birds Day Fat
Lamb Leprechaun Lion
Rainbow Shamrock Spring Tuesday Wednesday
March Mardi Parade Patricks
Flowers Forward Gras
Inspired by Food & Wine magazine
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KRAMER LAWGROUP UTAH PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
WWW.KRAMERLAWGROUP.COM | 801.601.1229
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2 2 3 3 4
My Feelings on 4-Leaf Clovers and an Optimistic Mindset
Should You Get a Pet?
How We Can Help With Pedestrian-Related Accidents!
The Biggest Winter Threat to Utah Drivers
Everything Popcorn
Llamas, Pigs, and Horses … Oh, My!
3 UNIQUE THERAPY ANIMALS
LLAMAS, PIGS, AND HORSES … OH, MY!
E veryone has heard of therapy dogs and cats, but did you know virtually any critter can be a therapy or support animal? Therapy animals help humans cope with PTSD, anxiety, depression, injury, high blood pressure, and chronic pain as well as a wide range of other conditions and difficulties. Therapy animals range from guinea pigs that can fit in a purse to dolphins that swim with amputees. Here are three unique companions who make a difference in the lives of people who need them.
BUTTERCUP THE POT-BELLIED PIG Lois Brady, a speech pathologist who works with special needs students in San Francisco, has a secret weapon in her arsenal: Buttercup, her black, 70-pound Vietnamese pot-bellied pig. His docile nature makes him the perfect companion for autistic children, who are often easily startled. Because Buttercup is an unusual sight in classrooms, children find him fascinating. In 2017, an autistic student who had never spoken to his classmates before felt compelled to crawl out from beneath his desk to pet Buttercup. Afterward, the child spoke to the class for the first time. “It was a remarkable breakthrough,” says Brady. ROCKY THE MINIATURE HORSE At just 32 inches high and 325 pounds, Rocky packs a lot of cuteness into one small package. He’s not a pony but rather a breed of miniature horse historically used in coal mines in the 17th century. His specialty is working with retired veterans at the VA Community Living Center in Phoenix, Arizona, where the residents know him and look forward to his visits. For some, Rocky’s visits are bittersweet. “I wish I could have had more time to spend with horses,” says one veteran as he scratches Rocky’s ears. “There’s something calming about them.”
ROJO THE LLAMA Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas and Alpacas in Portland, Oregon, has conducted over 1,500 visits during the last decade and helps over
10,000 people each year. Their star llama, Rojo, is one of just 14 llamas registered as a therapy animal in the United States. Rojo’s exceptionally gentle temperament is calming to everyone who meets him. He’s so well- loved and has become such a big deal that he has his own Facebook page and two children’s books!
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