Check out our March newsletter!
The Disability DIGEST
JoelThrift.com 404-618-4816
March 2025
FINDING JOY IN THE MADNESS Appreciating Life’s Wins — Big and Small
March is a time of renewal and fresh starts, but for sports fans, it’s all about the excitement of March Madness. As a kid, I was a much bigger fan of the tournament than I am now. This was partly due to growing up supporting Georgia Tech, one of my alma maters. When I was 10, they had a fantastic team that reached the Final Four. At that age, you don’t consider the broader context or the temporary nature of success — you simply believe your team will always excel. Reflecting now, it’s somewhat bittersweet. Georgia Tech has made sporadic appearances in the NCAA tournament over the past two decades, but that Final Four team feels like a distant memory. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate these fleeting successes simply because they’re not as common as I once thought. It’s easy to say, “We’ll be back next year,” but life isn’t predictable — whether it’s in sports, your career, or any other area. Sometimes, things just don’t work out in the way you planned. Consequently, I’ve learned to appreciate the journey rather than fixating solely on the destination. Underdogs and the Thrill of the Unexpected One thing I still love about March Madness is the excitement surrounding the tournament. Even people who don’t follow basketball tune in year after year. The office pools and bragging rights that
come with your alma mater making it to the next round add to the fun. And the dopamine rush from watching your team and hoping for a win doesn’t hurt, either! Naturally, there’s also a certain magic in supporting the underdog. March Madness is one of the few sporting events where a team with just one standout player can defeat a giant of the game. We all love watching David take down Goliath, but seeing two “Goliaths” battle it out in the final matchup can be just as satisfying. My big takeaway from the appeal of March Madness is this: Even if your team doesn’t win, you still have a great time watching. If your happiness depends on your team’s success, you’ll likely be disappointed. So, instead of clinging to the big wins, focus on all the other aspects that make the experience worthwhile — the fantastic athletes, the incredible plays, and the excitement of competition. Lessons From the Court to Life In some ways, March Madness mirrors life. Many of us fixate on what’s to come, constantly looking ahead to the next big event, career advancement, or life stage. We do this so much we neglect to appreciate the present moment. However, the seemingly minor wins we experience throughout the journey are the enriching bits. We lose the joy of what’s happening by getting caught up in the future.
I see this pattern in many of my clients, which is understandable. When you’re experiencing challenging times, it’s easy to feel like the underdog. You can fixate so much on achieving a specific result that you overlook progress. But every step forward is significant. Every achievement, regardless of its size, is worth celebrating. Finding Joy in the Madness It may be just a sporting event, but March Madness teaches that success isn’t solely determined by the outcome. It’s more about the experiences that make it all worthwhile. Perhaps your team fell short of victory, but a standout player made the season memorable. Maybe you didn’t complete every task on your to-do list, but you accomplished one important thing today. It’s these seemingly small moments that add up to a fulfilling life. So, keep things in perspective, whether filling out your tournament bracket or confronting personal challenges. Discover the joy in special moments. And if you ever feel overwhelmed by the odds, remember that someone is always supporting you.
–Joel Thrift
JoelThrift.com | 1
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THE CTA Should You Wait or Act Now on Your Reporting Requirements?
One of your most important responsibilities as a business owner is ensuring your company stays compliant with your industry’s laws, regulations, and standards. Business owners always need to manage something related to finances, staffing, or workplace safety, but this past year, a new transparency standard went into effect. The federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) rules went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. This legislation requires nearly all small and medium-sized businesses to report any beneficial ownership information (BOI) of their company to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The deadline to file was Jan. 1, 2025, but that was thrown into question when a federal district court in Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking any enforcement of the CTA and its reporting requirements. This isn’t the first time that the CTA has faced legal challenges. In March 2024, an Alabama court declared the act unconstitutional. However, FinCEN quickly appealed and stated they would continue implementing and enforcing the act outside the small group of plaintiffs in Alabama. FinCEN’s response to the Texas injunction is different. It stated that companies were not required to file BOI with FinCEN and were not subject
“One of your most important responsibilities as a business owner is ensuring your company stays compliant with your industry’s laws, regulations, and standards.”
to liability. It also held that reporting companies could still voluntarily submit this information while they fight the injunction in court. Business owners who have yet to file their beneficial ownership information with FinCEN now have a decision to make. There is a chance the appeals in Alabama and Texas could kill the CTA and require Congress to take another shot at crafting a similar law. If you firmly believe this will be the outcome, hold off on filing your information, waiting for news that the CTA is no more. This may save you some time you could allocate elsewhere, but if the CTA remains, you might have to scramble to report that information before any deadline. Another option is to gather and sit on all relevant information until the court battle concludes. That way, you can submit it promptly, even on a shortened deadline. Your last option is to file your BOI with FinCEN now. You can save yourself from a potential future headache and get it out of the way early. Remember that punishments for failing to file include fines of at least $500 per day up to $10,000. There’s no telling how this will all play out right now, but the current situation leaves you with a decision: Will you be proactive or reactive?
2 | 404-618-4816
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
TAKE A BREAK
By now, you’re probably tired of hearing about healthy aging. Every article says you should eat specific things and exercise regularly, but what if you’ve never enjoyed going to the gym or jogging? You’re probably not going to start running marathons, lifting weights, or joining a sports club at this point. It can make you wonder if other options exist to add more physical activity to your daily routine. The answer is yes. Instead of going to the gym or running through your neighborhood, you can find creative activities to provide extra movement to your day. Even better? You’ll improve your physical and mental agility. Here are two creative aging activities you can explore. Take the Stage Acting is an excellent activity for anyone to start, but it becomes even more beneficial to aging Americans. Through acting, you’ll notice improvements in your concentration and memorization. Depending on the play, you may be required to stay moving, which will benefit your physical health. Plus, you’ll get many opportunities to socialize with your castmates. Many local theaters actively look for aspiring actors to audition. Bust a Move You may have fond memories of dancing in clubs, at weddings, or during special events, but the opportunities to boogie become rarer as we age. Thankfully, dance classes and studios love sharing the enjoyment of dance with people of all ages. Whether you like salsa, tap, waltz, swing, or some other type of dance, you can find a class or group ready to welcome you. No Gym Required! Age Gracefully With Movement You Enjoy
AQUAMARINE BASKETBALL BLUEBIRD CLOVER GREEN IDES LEPRECHAUN MADNESS
PISCES SPRING TANGERINE TULIP
Not Your Mom’s Corned Beef and Cabbage Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Ingredients
• 3 qts water • 1 onion, quartered • 3 carrots, cut into large chunks • 3 celery stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 tsp salt • 2 lbs red potatoes, halved • 1 small head of cabbage, cut into eighths
Directions 1. In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, combine corned beef, spice packet contents, water, onions, carrots, celery, and salt. Bring to a simmer (skimming off any foam on top). 2. Cover pot, reduce to low heat, and let simmer for 3 hours until meat is fork tender. 3. Add potatoes to the pot and let simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until potatoes are al dente. 4. Add cabbage along the edges of the meat and on top. Cover and let simmer until cabbage is tender, 20–30 minutes. 5. Place meat on a cutting board and let rest for 10–15 minutes. After meat has cooled, slice against the grain. 6. Add to a large serving bowl, ladle vegetables and broth over top, and serve.
JoelThrift.com | 3
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube
404-618-4816 JoelThrift.com 2860 Piedmont Road NE, Ste. 115 Atlanta, GA 30308
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
March Madness, Underdogs, and Small Wins
1
To File or Not to File?
2
Not Your Mom’s Corned Beef and Cabbage
3
How Creative Activities Promote Healthy Aging
A Chef’s Truest Triumph
4
For culinary creators worldwide, earning a Michelin star is like winning an Olympic gold medal. Chefs with excellent kitchen skills and outstanding customer service receive the honor. Late French chef Joël Robuchon holds the world record with 31, while TV star Gordon Ramsay rose to international fame and marked his hot-tempered journey to TV stardom by achieving 17 stars for his many restaurants. But how did this legendary distinction in the cooking world begin? If you’ve ever had the pleasure of dining at a Michelin-honored establishment, you have the automotive industry to thank. As its name implies, the star system was the brainchild of the Michelin tire company. To help inspire consumers to drive more — and increase the demand for tire purchases — it began publishing “The Michelin Guide” in France in 1900. The publication included maps, tips on tire care, and recommendations for hotels and restaurants along popular French travel routes. As the guide grew in popularity, the company expanded its content to include anonymous MICHELIN MAGIC The Mark of Culinary Mastery
restaurant reviews. In 1926, it introduced “the Michelin star” to recognize the eateries it considered the best in the country. Today, the bestselling publication reviews more than 40,000 restaurants across three continents. Only 146 restaurants worldwide — or less than 1% of those rated by the guide — have received three Michelin stars. In Ramsay’s mind, receiving that rare level remains the ultimate benchmark in his profession. As he stated in a 2024 article in Parade, “As a soccer player, I wanted an FA Cup winner’s medal. As an actor, you want an Oscar. As a chef, it’s three Michelin stars; there’s no greater than that.”
4 | 404-618-4816
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator