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THE KONECKY
JOURNAL
561.671.5995 | 954.272.6187 | www.matthewkoneckypa.com 110 SE 6th Street, Suite 1700, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 4440 PGA Blvd., Suite 204, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 The Gift of an Experience CREATING LASTING MEMORIES DURING THE HOLIDAYS
DECEMBER 2020
T he holiday season is a great way to end the year. It typically gives us something to look forward to as people come together and celebrate. It’s also the season of giving. Many people are giving back to their community or their favorite charities. And, of course, there’s the giving of gifts to family and friends. While there will likely be fewer gatherings this year, many people will still be celebrating the holidays and the end of the year in all sorts of ways. One thing I’ve been reading about lately — and something our family practices — is putting a greater emphasis on gifting experiences rather than things or material objects. This year, in particular, with people spending more time in their homes, they’ve realized just how much stuff they already have. People have opened up their closets, attics, garages, sheds, and every other nook and cranny to find all these things that they purchased or were gifted but sit unused. It’s led to the increasingly common question: “Do I really need this?” As a result, there has been a lot of decluttering and donating to charities and secondhand stores during these past several months at home. I’ve always enjoyed experiences over things. For years, my wife Ashley and I have gifted each other vacations or little getaways in lieu of “traditional” holiday gifts. We would pick something out and then take time off in January or February to make it happen. Since we live in Florida, cruises would often be our top choice. It’s just so convenient to skip the airport and not have to hunt down accommodations. We could drive to the port and were good to go. Plus, cruises are a lot of fun. Ashley and I have always enjoyed all of the delicious food and awesome entertainment. Last year (before COVID-19), we asked our daughter, Jade, what she wanted for her birthday. Taking after Mom and Dad, she said she wanted to take a cruise. We wanted to give her that experience, so we went on a Disney cruise. It was a blast!
When you give someone the gift of an expected experience, whether it’s a cruise or a trip to Disney World, you still get the same feeling of joy as when you give someone a gift. You get to watch their face light up when they learn they get to go on this adventure. The best part about gifting your loved ones experiences is that you get a bunch of memories from that experience, too. A tangible item may bring someone a lot of joy, but what are the chances it’s just going to end up on a shelf somewhere? While I tend to prefer experiences over holiday gifts, there is one that stands out in my mind that brought me a lot of joy. In 2004, Ashley got me an XM radio for my car. This was before it was in every single new vehicle. I love music, so it made perfect sense. It gave me so many more options than traditional radio, and I could listen to exactly what I wanted. To this day, I am still an XM radio subscriber. Going into this holiday season, I couldn’t begin to tell you what it’s going to look like. I have no doubt many families are in the same situation. For us, finding experiences has gotten a little harder, but it means we’ll just to be more creative going into 2021. In closing, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and that you get to celebrate in the way that brings you the most joy. Stay healthy and have fun!
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4 Tips for a Less Exhausting Holiday Season HOLIDAY HACKS FOR THE BUSY PROFESSIONAL
T he holidays are an emails to answer, dinners to plan, gifts to buy — and family is coming in from out of town. Is it possible to take care of everything and not be completely exhausted by the end of it? While we can’t answer that definitively, we can share a few “holiday hacks” to help you get more out of your time. Put work aside. Give yourself blocks of time to focus on one thing at a time. You may be tempted to multitask, but for your mental health, don’t do it. Focusing on one thing at a incredibly busy time of year. Between work and home, it can feel like there isn’t enough daylight to get everything done. We have projects to complete,
time produces better results (this applies equally to cooking as it does to client work) and you’ll feel better through the process. Delegate — at home! You delegate assignments at work, so why not do the same at home? Start with your immediate family and work your way out. Give everyone a task: Someone does the grocery shopping. Someone is in charge of a main course dish. Another is on side-dish duty. Others get dessert. Don’t forget to assign a clean-up crew. Save yourself for the tasks you REALLY want to do. Take frequent breaks. When you have a lot going on, frequent 5–10 minute minibreaks can go a long way in easing the mental pressure. Don’t hesitate to take brain breaks throughout the day. Go for a quick walk around the
building or neighborhood. Read a chapter of your book. Play a quick game on your phone.
Say no to the kitchen. When your time is precious, why spend a lot of time in the kitchen? While some find cooking a joy, others find it burdensome. If you’re in the latter group, it’s okay to go the boxed or prepared meal route when time is short. Boxed meals can still be prepared with love, and you can get high- quality frozen dishes or freshly prepared meals from your favorite grocery store. The time and energy you save is worth the investment. In 2020, we have more options than ever to make life easier. So, enjoy the holidays a little more by doing the things you love and using these tips to make the most of your time and energy this season.
“So, my friend gave me this number. I left several messages all over Palm Beach County with different offices. One lawyer said he would take the case but never called me back. So, I called Mr. Konecky, and he was overly excited. He heard the injustice in the story, and he wanted to get right to work. I am not the type who wants to hear about legal calls weekly, but this man called me personally every single week. When I saw the number on caller ID, my stomach would ache. But it was always informative and positive. He did not give lip service; he gave me facts. My son was arrested in December 2019, and on Oct. 6, the case was dropped. We had a public defender who did absolutely nothing. I think Matthew had the case for a month, and it’s over. He did exactly what he promised and that was to really fight. I am nobody rich, but if you have a serious case and you want someone to really fight for you and not think of you as a dollar or number, you better call this office!” –Monique M. AMESSAGE FROM THE FAITHFUL
Download these books today ! When it comes to the legal process, you may have a lot of questions. Well, I have answers! Right now, I am offering my two resource books for free. YOUR LEGAL RESOURCE
‘My Loved One Has Been Arrested’ The second edition of my first book is now available for download. Inside the second edition, you will find out what happens after your case, how to remove mugshots, and what to do if you were the one arrested. If you want a physical copy, please contact our office today. ‘What You Must Know About Your DUI Case’ Being convicted of a DUI charge can drastically change your life. Learn what goes into a DUI case and what your first step should be. Head over to MatthewKoneckyPA.com today for your FREE downloads!
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PARENTS, TEENS, AND DRINKING
Teenage drunk driving is a serious issue. Every year, over 10,000 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 10 high schoolers drinks and drives. On top of that, 1 in 5 teenagers involved in fatal wrecks had alcohol in their system at the time of the crash. And a majority of those teens (81%) had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above the legal limit. What can parents, grandparents, and guardians do to protect teens? The saying “prevention is the best medicine” applies here. You can take steps to help your teenager realize the real danger that exists when they (or a friend) drink and drive. Talk to them about underage DUIs. Teens should be aware of the underage DUI. With zero tolerance laws in all states, drivers under the age of 21 caught with any alcohol in their system will face arrest and underage DUI charges. Unless they have an experienced DUI attorney defending them in court, the likelihood of conviction is high. Being declared a DUI offender comes with short-term and lifelong consequences, including possible jail time, hefty fines, and ignition interlock device installation. Encourage them to befriend nondrinkers. Who your teen becomes friends with is never up to you, but you should at least make it clear to them that you want their friends to be nondrinkers, too. Try your best to know who your teen hangs out with. If you find out that there’s a known drinker in their circle, limit the time they spend with them by setting up strict rules about after school hours. What Can You Do to Discourage Drinking?
MEME CORNER Monitor them. If you are concerned about your teen’s habits, monitoring may be your next step. Your teen will see how serious you are about drinking if you do things like wait for them to come home after a party or gathering to determine whether they’ve had a drink or not. If you want to be discreet about it, you can resort to simple gestures like hugging, looking into their eyes, or engaging in small talk to check for evidence of alcohol consumption.
Cooking With Ashley
FESTIVE APPLE CIDER
If you’re cutting back on calories, skip the eggnog and buttered rum this year and fill up your mug with this delicious mulled cider!
Ingredients
Directions
• • • • • • • •
1 lemon
1. Using a paring knife, shave the lemon peel off in curls. Reserve the curls and save the lemon for use in a different recipe. 2. In a large slow cooker, combine the lemon peel with all other ingredients. Cook on low for 3–4 hours. 3. If desired, use a sieve to strain the spices. Serve and enjoy!
1 gallon pure apple cider 1 large orange, thinly sliced crosswise
2 tsp whole cloves 2 tsp allspice berries
1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
2 tbsp honey
3 cinnamon sticks
Inspired by BoulderLocavore.com
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There’s Nothing Quite Like the Gift of an Experience
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Want to Make Your Holidays a Little Easier? Hear From Our Clients
Teens and Drunk Driving — Discouraging Drinking Festive Apple Cider
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The Surprising History of the Snowman
Not Just a Corn Cob Pipe and Button Nose
THE SURPRISING HISTORY OF THE SNOWMAN
Building a snowman is one of the most picturesque winter activities, which is why snowmen have become a wintertime cultural icon. A snowman appeared on the very first postcards, was the subject of some of the earliest photos, and even starred in silent movies. Frosty may be a happy snowman now, but his ancestors have a much more varied — and sometimes dark — history. THE MIDDLE AGES Snowmen were a phenomenon in the Middle Ages. They were constructed with deep thought and great skill because, during a time of limited means of expression, snow was a free art supply that literally fell from the sky. These artistic feats were popular winter attractions for well-to-do couples who wanted to get their fix of temporary art. Snowmen were often created by famous artists, including 19-year-old Michelangelo who, in 1494, was commissioned by the ruler of Florence to sculpt a snowman in his mansion’s courtyard. THE MIRACLE OF 1511 In Brussels in 1511, during six weeks of subzero temperatures called the Winter of Death, the city was miraculously adorned with hundreds of snowmen. The spectacle told stories on every street corner — some political and some demonstrating anger with the church, many too risque
to speak of. For the people of Brussels, this Miracle of 1511 was a defining moment of artistic freedom. But when spring came and the snow thawed, the Belgians were left with damaging floods. THE SCHENECTADY MASSACRE Not all snowmen have an innocent history. In 1690, former Fort Schenectady in upstate New York was home to a remote Dutch settlement, which was under the constant threat of attack. Soldiers guarded the gates at all times because they were frozen open, but during a blizzard, they left a pair of snowmen to protect the gates while they sought shelter. That’s when 200 French Canadian soldiers and Native Americans approached. Naturally, they were unfazed by the snowmen and ruthlessly invaded the settlement. Building a snowman seems like a simple and charming activity, but after learning about its surprising history, you might find those piles of snow seem a little more complicated and a lot more meaningful than before.
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