RECONNECT WITH YOUR TRUE SELF THE EXCITING JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY AFTER PARENTING
We dedicate our lives to our children. There’s no doubt about that, and we’re not talking a few years. We spend more than 18 years giving every part of ourselves to each child. Then, the inevitable happens: They grow up! Our kids are no longer kids, and they move on to college or move out, and suddenly, we’re on our own. After all these years, it can feel impossible to remember how to live for yourself. What do you enjoy? What do you want to do from now on? Who are you without your children? These can all be questions swirling around in your head as you get closer to having an empty nest. As you spend more time on your own, you need to start a journey of self-discovery. What have you
been too busy to do as a parent? What hobbies have you left behind due to the hustle and bustle? What friendships and connections do you wish to re-spark? If you’re struggling to understand yourself, what you want, and who you want to be, practicing therapeutic activities first can give you a better idea. One way you can reconnect with your true self is by spending more time reflecting. You can try any of the following: • Mindfulness meditation • Journaling • Creating a vision board • Yoga • Volunteering • Beginning a new hobby
All these activities allow you to dig deeper into yourself, your desires, values, and your place in the world. It can be scary starting over again. But it’s time to start seeing this as a whole new beginning, one that’s as exciting as it is nerve- wracking. You have so many opportunities open to you now! Think of all the travels you can have now on your own. Imagine all the free time you can spend on fitness, reading, socializing, and more. Finding yourself again doesn’t have to be a bad thing. You’re entering a whole new era of your life where you’ll experience new freedoms that you haven’t experienced in two decades or more. Reclaim your life and enjoy it to the fullest!
Client Story: Sam Allen AND AN ‘AFTER-HOURS’ ACCIDENT
Our client and friend, Sam Allen, is a rising star for a “leading broadband
The question in Sam’s case didn’t involve determining “what happened” or the nature of his injuries; it was whether or not he had a workers’ compensation claim. To have a valid claim in Ohio, an injury must arise out of, and be sustained in the course of, employment. In Sam’s case, he had clocked out. Typically, this would mean his work day was over and his claim wouldn’t be valid. In Ohio, generally, injuries on the way to or from work are not compensable as workers’ compensation claims. But, like holes in Swiss cheese, there are exceptions to the general rule. Sam was driving in a company van sporting the company logo. He could’ve been called out again to another job. His situation wasn’t clear-cut either way, and the initial Industrial Commission ruling would likely be appealed to a court (meaning more expense and it would be drawn out even longer than the administrative hearings). So, it required creative thinking. Fortunately, having done this long enough, I know most players on the field, including the defense attorney representing the employer. We approached the company’s disability insurance
connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 32 million customers in 41 states.” But he’s not your average “cable guy.” A Hilliard-Davidson grad who developed a love for technology from his dad, Sam has been with the company for nearly four years and has already been promoted several times since then. As a field technician (at the time of his injury in March 2022), he typically worked until 10 p.m. or so. Field technicians typically start their day by “clocking in” on their work cellphones and “clocking out” via their cellphones at the end of the work day. Sam had clocked out and was driving the company van home (which is standard procedure as it lets the employees hit the ground running to their first appointment the next day) when he got into an accident on Interstate 70 west of Wilson Road. His van got trapped between a semi-trailer and a car. The Columbus Fire Department had to get Sam out of the wreckage and he was taken to Grant Trauma Center by ambulance with a fractured skull, brain bleed, concussion, and a broken leg.
provider about covering the medical costs and Sam’s time off work. At first, they balked as Sam had the workers’ compensation claim pending (company disability and health insurance does not like to pay for work injuries); so, since a claim may be withdrawn and refiled within a year of the injury, we withdrew it. Insurance companies are more maddeningly slow than the workers’ compensation process, so ultimately, we refiled his workers’ comp claim while waiting for the insurance provider to make its decision. They finally agreed to the reimbursements, and Sam closed his claim and kept his employment. Sam was happy to get the bills and paid time off, his employer was thrilled to keep an excellent employee, and I was grateful that “outside the box thinking” could help a great guy. Fortunately, Sam has recovered and is back to rock climbing in Kentucky and West Virginia while still moving up the company ladder. Keep an eye out for when he’s promoted to running the company!
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