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For The Ambitious Advocate BRIEF RECESS
APR / MAY 2025
FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF J. PRICE MCNAMARA
Stranded at Sea LESSONS FROM AN EASTER DAY BOAT RESCUE
Hey, recreational boaters!
Basically, you pay $160 per year, and they come to get you if you get stranded — or even salvage your boat and tow it where you want it if it sinks — all for no additional charge! So, I bought a membership. Fast forward about 10 years. They’ve come to the rescue twice. Once, they helped when I tore the lower unit off on what must have been a submerged piling in a bay. Again, this happened with the
We got stranded while fishing out of Grand Isle on a beautiful Easter afternoon years ago and had the whole family aboard — wife and three kids. The outboard engine sounded a little rough when we headed out, but it hadn’t been used in a while, so I figured it would be fine once it ran for a bit. Unfortunately, that turned out not to be the case! The day on the water was great. The weather had been perfect, with calm waters, a blue sky, and just enough of a breeze to make it pleasant. We were relaxing, catching fish, and thinking of just how lucky we were to have a day like that together. But when we were ready to head back, the engine wouldn’t start. I gave it my best effort and applied all my boat knowledge to get it going, but we were still dead on the water. No big deal, I thought. We were only about a mile from the island and its Coast Guard station. So, I called and asked if they could come tow us. “Nope — only if lives are in danger,” the guy said. They asked my coordinates, said they’d put out a “Good Samaritan” radio call, and hoped another boater would show up. Surprisingly, one did! A nice local couple who were just boating nearby pulled us for the “tow of shame” back to our camp. The kids were a little nervous, my wife gave me “the look,” and I had to admit I should’ve checked that motor more carefully.
whole family on board. But instead of being close to shore, we were 15 miles from the island in a thunderstorm, so it was a bit of an adventure. The Sea Tow captain showed up, towed us, and was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. The second time Sea Tow saved the day was five years later when my boat sank overnight while tied to my dock. That’s a whole other story, but the same Sea Tow captain came and raised it off the bottom and back to floating. And he had to swim down to attach cables to it. It was actually an amazing operation. I tried to tip him $100, but he refused. That kind of service is hard to come by.
If you boat, you need Sea Tow! It’s the best $160 you’ll ever spend on peace of mind.
I told the story to a friend who suggested a Sea Tow membership. What is a Sea Tow membership, you might ask? I’d never heard of it before, either.
Knowing we have Sea Tow gives us the freedom to enjoy our time on the water without worry. If you spend time boating with family like we do, a little preparation goes a long way.
Well, Sea Tow has been around for over 40-plus years. Sea Tow boats are located in over 500 ports, so when you need help fast, members know their local captain is standing by.
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Louisiana Comes Alive: Spring is in full swing, which means Louisiana is coming alive with events and festivals across the state. If you’re a music fan, there’s no shortage of performances to check out, from jazz and blues to country and rock. Here are a few ways to celebrate the season. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Now in its sixth decade, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is one of The Crescent City’s biggest musical events. Since its first year in 1970, the festival has brought together an eclectic mix of performers from various musical styles and genres. The 2025 festival is no different, with a lineup that includes jazz and blues artists, classic rock bands, R&B performers, and country acts. Along with hearing great music, attendees can explore cultural exhibits and a craft fair featuring the work of regionally and nationally acclaimed artists. Performances and festival activities run from April 24–May 4 at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo Festival The Bayou Boogaloo is a three-day festival featuring music, food, art, and community. The 2025 festival will be held May 15–18 and
When our furry friends get sick, it’s up to us to bring them in for a veterinary appointment. It’s part of the responsibility of being a pet owner, but stray animals have no owners. Who takes care of them when they most need it? Sadly, help is beyond their reach in many cases. However, some dogs won’t let anything stand in their way, especially if it’s a difference between life and death. In January 2025, a stray mother dog noticed her puppy stopped moving and jumped into action. Without an owner to guide her, the mother brought her baby to a local veterinarian clinic in Istanbul, Turkey. The staff saw the dog standing outside their door, so they checked on her and noticed the lifeless puppy. The pup was freezing cold, and the vet wasn’t even sure if it was still alive! The vet could not hear the puppy's heartbeat with a stethoscope, so he checked it with a needle, which provided promising results! The dog was alive but had a very slow heartbeat. The vet used a blow dryer to warm the puppy up, and before long, it was awake and moving again. All the while, the mother was at the puppy’s side with her head perched on the examination table. STRAY DOG OUTSMARTS FATE AND SAVES HER PUPPY’S LIFE
Does your office turn away calls about “long-term disability insurance” claim denials because you don’t handle administrative appeals or “ERISA litigation” in federal court? We want to hear from you! We happily share fees on referred ERISA long-term disability, life insurance, and accidental death insurance denial cases. Send us an email at BriefRecess@jpricemcnamara.com or call (225) 201-8311 to start the referral process! WE VALUE YOUR REFERRALS!
So, how did the puppy’s mother know where to take her baby? This wasn’t her first encounter with this vet clinic; the same doctor was already treating the puppy’s littermate after good Samaritans brought her to the same clinic a few days earlier. Both puppies have been reunited with their mother and are all under the close eye of the clinic.
Whether discussing humans or dogs,
parents are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure their children survive and thrive. However, dogs might have to be more creative with their efforts.
ERISA is all we do!
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Music, Food, and Culture feature more than a dozen musical acts playing on two stages. Members of Parliament/Funkadelic will headline this year’s event alongside Big Freedia’s Gospel Revival and Honey Island Swamp Band’s Dark Side of the Bayou. Bayou Boogaloo also hosts a variety stage with comedy, improv, and cabaret. Attendees can watch the performances from the land or a boat on the bayou. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the Bayou St. John neighborhood. Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival If you’re looking for a family-friendly event that’s easy on the wallet, check out the Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival. Celebrating its eighth anniversary, this event highlights regional food favorites from Louisiana and other Southern states, but music also takes center stage. Attendees can expect performances from blues, soul, R&B, and gospel artists. The 2025 Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival will be held May 17–18 at the East Baton Rouge Public Library. It’s free to attend, but VIP tickets are also available to cover all food and drinks.
The Kindness Cure
A NATURAL BOOST FOR BODY AND BRAIN
"What you think about, you bring about. What you brought about, you thought about."
That old saying takes on new meaning when you realize how closely your mindset and health are related. In fact, science is finally catching up to what many of us have always felt: Kindness is powerful — not just emotionally but biologically. We all know that kindness benefits the recipient, but recent research shows that it also boosts the well-being of the giver and all those who simply witness the kind act. Kindness Received When you’re on the receiving end of a kind gesture, your brain starts producing more oxytocin. This helps regulate serotonin and dopamine, your body’s natural “feel good” chemicals. At the same time, cortisol levels decrease, which helps reduce stress and anxiety. Overall, this balance creates a sense of connection, safety, and self-worth that goes far beyond the moment. Kindness Given Those who perform acts of kindness often experience a surge in dopamine and serotonin, which provide a natural mood lift. Oxytocin increases as well. With these neurochemical shifts, the body’s inflammatory response decreases and immune function improves. It’s proof that doing good really is good for you. Kindness Observed Even watching a kind act can shift your biology. Witnessing kindness can trigger a phenomenon called moral elevation — a state marked by calm, inspiration, and measurable biological benefits like reduced cortisol levels and improved heart rate variability. In high-pressure environments, such as law offices, courtrooms, or even just everyday business, these small moments can add up. A thank-you note, a patient conversation, or an encouraging word might seem minor, but they have real power to shift your day, as well as someone else’s.
SLOW COOKER SHREDDED BEEF LETTUCE CUPS
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Ingredients • 1 boneless beef chuck roast (about 2 lbs) • 3 medium carrots, peeled, chopped • 2 medium sweet red peppers, chopped • 1 medium onion, chopped • 1 8-oz can unsweetened crushed pineapple, undrained • 1/2 cup reduced- sodium soy sauce • 2 tbsp packed brown sugar • 2 tbsp white vinegar • 1 garlic clove, minced • 1/2 tsp pepper • 3 tbsp cornstarch • 3 tbsp water • 24 lettuce leaves for serving
Directions 1. In 4- or 5-quart slow cooker, combine roast, carrots, peppers, and onion. 2. In small bowl, stir together the next 6 ingredients; pour over roast. 3. Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours. Remove roast, let cool slightly, then shred. 4. Skim fat from cooking juices, then transfer juices and vegetables to a small saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. 5. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water, stir mixture into juices, and cook 3–4 minutes until sauce is thickened. 6. Return beef, sauce, and vegetables to slow cooker; cook for 10–15 minutes. 7. Serve beef in lettuce leaves.
So, if you’ve been looking for a small way to make a big impact, start here. Practice kindness and share it. You’ve got nothing to lose and a lot of serotonin to gain.
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ERISA INSURANCE J. PRICE MCNAMARA Claim Attorney
10455 Jefferson Hwy. Suite 130 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 201-8311 WinMyBenefits.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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The Rescue I Didn’t Expect
A Stray Dog Pulls Off the Ultimate Rescue Mission
Spring Festivals, Music, and Food Guide
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Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Lettuce Cups
The Neuroscience Behind Helping Others
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Mindset Coaching: A New Path to Savoring Life
In a fast-changing world, it's easy to get bogged down in self-doubt and negativity. Mindset coaching, a new route to self-improvement, applies psychological tools to instill a more upbeat, hopeful attitude toward life. Mindset coaching helps people break away from habitual negative thinking and behaviors that prevent them from seeing and reaching their potential. It is a relatively new field that evolved from two influential bodies of research — cognitive psychology, which helps individuals recognize and change negative thought patterns, and the work of psychologist Carol Dweck on “growth mindset,” a perspective that teaches people they can change and develop through effort and learning. It’s important to understand that mindset coaches are not therapists, nor are they licensed or regulated. Interested individuals should seek a qualified coach trained and certified by a reputable coaching organization. The training equips mindset coaches with tools to help clients cultivate resilience and positivity, including mindfulness, journaling, visualizing achievements, and cognitive restructuring or replacing negative thought patterns with more realistic, balanced views. Mindset coaches also help clients uproot limiting beliefs about themselves and reduce their fear of being evaluated negatively by others. For example, mindset coaching might help a software engineer struggling with self-doubt and fear of failure to reframe their thinking and view criticism as constructive feedback to help improve their skills. Also, a manager striving for a promotion might learn to value their skills and cultivate a belief in their ability to expand and acquire new competencies. Ultimately, clients are taught to reframe life as a journey of self-discovery and learning — a mindset so empowering that it can change lives!
Embrace Your Capacity for Growth ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT
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