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Notes From The Field
December 2022
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How Did We Get Here?
I don’t know about you, but when I pause and think about the year in general, I find myself surprised — it’s 2022, really? How did we get here? How did I get here? This leads me to reflect on the past year, and maybe a little bit more than just the past year (the years do tend to blur together). But it is nice to put things in perspective and be grateful instead of focusing on the past week and the bombardment of the media (which is primarily negative). While I’m surprised it’s 2022, I’m also surprised by how far January 2022 seems in the past. I have to really think about what happened last January. As I recall, I’d hoped the worst of the pandemic was behind us — maybe we’d finally turn a corner. Then January morphed into February, then March …
road trip to Texas to visit our oldest son and his family. We trailered a small tractor to drop off. But Texas is a big state, and it was 20 hours of driving one way. It felt great to see the grandkids, though. We held a couple of American dream experiences during the year where we transformed people’s relationship with money by helping them discover a true purpose for money that left them with freedom, fulfillment, and love so they can now live a Life on Purpose. So far, we’ve had 52 families experience the American dream! The summer has moved into the fall. School has started, and Friday night football is part of our routine. Shelli just returned from visiting friends in northern Colorado. They run a cattle ranch the old-school way — they’re real cowboys with horses. Just before her visit, she had a health scare. She fell and really injured her back. Fortunately, she is on the mend, though she didn’t saddle up while at the ranch. The year has quickly come and gone, but as I look back, I can honestly say, “It’s been a good year.” I’m not denying there’s great turmoil in our world, because there is. I am also not denying I have much to be grateful for. I think you do, too, if you’ll just take a look and see. I am grateful for my family and how they have navigated my father’s passing. After all, he was their “Papa.” I am also grateful for each one of you. We have had the privilege of walking with some of you in the passing of a loved one, and it is a sacred and holy honor to come alongside you as you take that journey. We’ve also been blessed to assist new clients with putting their legacy in place. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journeys and for letting me share some of mine.
So, I mostly reflected on the highlights. We went to a conference in Florida, and I brought my daughter, Lindsey, and her four sons along so we could experience Disney World together. Lindsey had expressed interest in our sister business of Investor Coaching. Matson Money was
having a conference in Florida, so we took advantage of allowing her to dip her toes in the water, and we enjoyed our grandsons.
April was a different sort of highlight. We held my dad’s memorial service in early April. It was a true celebration of his life, and I felt taken aback by all those who showed up and shared stories of how my dad had truly impacted their lives. Some said, “Pastor Larry helped restore our relationship and marriage.” One lady shared with me how my dad would come to Coco’s restaurant near the church for coffee or lunch. She said
that over time, “Pastor Larry restored my faith in God.” He touched our family and the community he lived in; he became a true legacy. April became May, then June, then July … which brought football practice for Caleb as the starting QB for his freshman team while Jeanine had ongoing track practice. Shelli, Jeanine, and I took a
To 2022,
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Celebrating the Holidays
In our family, Christmas is a big deal ! With five kids and 10 grandkids, our house is always full of life and laughter. When I asked Caleb about what he wanted to share with you this December, he suggested sharing some fun activities our family has enjoyed over the years. After a bit of brainstorming, we came up with a small list of things you can do together to celebrate this joyous time of year. • Visit the snow and try sledding, skiing, snowboarding, or making snowmen. • Have a gingerbread house design contest. • Watch your favorite holiday movie while stringing popcorn as a decoration. • Make a cozy cup of hot cocoa for everyone and read a story together. • Cut out paper snowflakes while listening to your favorite holiday albums. • Drive around your neighborhood to find the best Christmas lights.
Spreading Holiday Cheer
The most wonderful time of the year is here again, and with it comes fond memories of family time during the holidays and the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones. I still remember when
my youngest kids, Jeanine and Caleb, were really small (just 6 and 5 years old!), and my wife decided to plan a family Christmas caroling day with my extended family. She and my sister spent a few days baking cookies and other treats with the kids, making simple care packages for all our neighbors. In preparation for our outing as a makeshift caroling group, my sister made a list of caroling songs and played them on the piano so we could practice ahead of time. We went from door to door, knocking or ringing doorbells, eagerly awaiting our next audience to appear on their porch. When doors opened, we sang in our best (mostly on key) voices as one of the kids smiled and said, “Merry Christmas!” while delivering the packet of cookies and treats to the neighbor. Reflecting on this memory, I am reminded of how good it is to be the bringers of joy in our community. As you make plans for the holidays this month, whether you are carrying on long-lasting traditions or forging a new way of celebrating, I encourage you to take time and consider how you might bring a little more joy into your world. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa, I hope your celebrations are merry and filled with love.
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TAKE A BREAK
We’ve all felt anxious, guilty, fearful, and sad — it’s a part of life. Perhaps you’ve tried to avoid or suppress these emotions, but you’re not a rock. As humans, we experience these feelings all the time. Trying to control them may only make matters worse. So, instead, focus on something you can control — your actions. That’s the central premise of Mark Freeman’s mental health book “You Are Not a Rock.” He aims to teach readers how to build emotional fitness and overcome their struggles and hardships with different techniques. The book is divided into two sections titled “The Basics” and “The Transformation.” The first half is about learning basic mental health skills and unlearning ways of thinking about mental health that cause us challenges. The second half focuses on how to create and build what you want to see in your life instead of trying to avoid and control what you can’t see. As you read, you’ll learn how to recognize your problems, practice mindfulness, prioritize and follow your values, and understand your fears. The strategies in “You Are Not a Rock” are the same tactics Freeman used in his personal life, and he shares some of those stories in the book. There are exercises at the end of each chapter that Freeman highly encourages you to complete. By TIRED OF FEELING ANXIOUS AND FEARFUL? Read ‘You Are Not a Rock’ by Mark Freeman
WINTER VEGETABLE SHEPHERD’S PIE
Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
performing these exercises, you can
Ingredients
better understand the book’s contents and implement Freeman’s tactics in your life. Before Freeman helps readers begin their journey, he states that strengthening your mental health is like working on your physical health — you won’t see instant results. “Changing your brain takes time
• 6 1/2 cups potatoes, cut into large chunks • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 onions, sliced • 1 tbsp flour • 2 large carrots, cut into rounds • 1/2 cauliflower, broken into florets
• 4 garlic cloves, sliced • 1 sprig rosemary • 15-oz can diced tomatoes plus liquid • 1/2 cup water • 1 1/2 cups frozen peas • Milk, to desired consistency
Directions
1. In a pot, boil potatoes until tender. 2. In a pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened. Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add carrots, cauliflower, garlic, and rosemary and stir until softened. 3. Pour tomatoes into mix and add water. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes, then remove lid and cook for 15 minutes until thickened. Stir in peas and simmer. 4. Drain and mash potatoes. Stir in milk to desired consistency. 5. Preheat oven to 375 F. Spoon hot vegetable mix into pie dish, then top with mashed potatoes. Bake until top is golden brown.
and effort … I’m not going to share with you any magical supplements or special mantras. This is simply a book about actions,” Freeman says in his introduction. If you’re interested in reading “You Are Not a Rock,” you can purchase your copy wherever books are sold online or in bookstores.
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818-369-7900 FieldLawPC.com
P.O. Box 8306 La Crescenta, CA 91224 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
How Did We Get Here?
Caleb’s Corner: Celebrating the Holidays Spreading Holiday Cheer
Winter Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie Tired of Feeling Anxious and Fearful?
This ‘Anti-Diet’ Could Save Christmas
What It Is and How You Can Benefit Intuitive Eating: The Anti-Diet for the Holidays
What are the benefits of eating this way? Intuitive eating isn’t about weight loss, although some people who practice it do shed pounds. Instead,
If you’ve ever seen any “What I Eat in a Day” videos on TikTok or Instagram, you’ve probably come across the hashtag #intuitiveeating. It pops up under posts ranging from snapshots of green smoothies to reels of influencers sprinkling cheese over giant bowls of pasta. If you’re not familiar with the term, you probably have a few big questions. What is intuitive eating, and why is it considered an ‘anti-diet’? At its core, intuitive eating is simply giving your body the food it needs in a mindful way. As psychologist Dr. Susan Albers explained in an interview with the Cleveland Clinic, “Intuitive eating is the polar opposite of dieting. Instead of following rules and restricting what you eat, you trust your internal hunger, fullness, and satiety cues to help you decide what and how much to eat. No food is off the table.” This means you won’t catch an intuitive eater counting calories, talking about cheat days, or staring longingly at a doughnut they want but just can’t have. Instead, you might see them slowly savoring their food and pausing between bites to decide whether or not they’re full.
many articles point to other benefits like increased respect for your body, less stress and guilt around food, and even a better understanding of your emotions. Ultimately, practitioners of this anti-diet claim to find more joy in eating than before. How can I learn more? Intuitive eating is based on 10 principles, including “honor your hunger” and “feel your fullness.” You can read about them at Health.ClevelandClinic.org/what-is-intuitive-eating or pick up a copy of the 1995 book that started it all: “Intuitive Eating” by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, two health professionals who specialize in nutrition and eating disorders. Intuitive eating is an “anti-diet” for every age and body type. It may be just the strategy you need to heal your relationships with food and get more joy out of the holiday season.
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