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TRUE NORTH
BY
STEVE LINGENBRINK | CHRIS CAZARES
THE INDEPENDENCE DAY JOURNEY I NEVER THOUGHT I’D BE HERE, BUT I’VE FOUND MY PURPOSE
It’s often said that freedom isn’t free, and how true that is. Every Fourth of July, we recognize the independence that so many have fought for and continue to fight for. For each of us, independence is reflected in our ability to make choices for ourselves and our family in terms of where we live, where we work, who we align ourselves with, and the lives we lead. When my wife, Devin, and I made the decision to pack up and move our lives to the Pacific Northwest and join Steve’s law firm, we knew we were called to something bigger and different. Washington was not a location we ever considered while moving around in the military. There are plenty of ties to the state. After graduating law school, Washington is where I decided to take my licensing exam in 2005 in order to begin my career as a JAG in the Air Force. Devin’s mom was born and raised in Seattle, the daughter of two lifelong Boeing engineers. Devin has plenty of family in the area and even attended the University of Portland — her U.S. Army active-duty home of record for the entire time she was in the military read Washington. We are firm believers that God has a plan for our lives. Each conversation with friends and colleagues pointed back to Washington. We came to believe that our true north, our next step, began and ended with joining Steve in Washington. There is freedom in making each choice, and as a personal injury attorney, one of the things I love about serving those who have been injured is that I have the opportunity to get them to a place of
freedom once again. At the end of the process, having helped them return to their own Fourth of July is rewarding. The reality of personal injury is that nobody chooses to get hurt. However, each of our clients make the decision to go through the process and ultimately through adversity. In adversity, each of us find out so much about who we are and what we are capable of. I wouldn’t wish the pain and struggle on anyone. Yet, having the opportunity to guide others on that journey is second to none. I am a better person for having known and journeyed with our clients. In many ways, personal injury takes me back to my days of being a high school football coach and having the opportunity to help others in ways that take you beyond yourself. Years ago, I took my own independence journey. Earlier in my career I had served as a prosecutor and later a criminal defense attorney. I was feeling THE FIRST WEEK HIT ME LIKE A BRICK, OR RATHER, A VERY WARM, UNANTICIPATED HUG.”
burnout. The criminal justice system takes a toll on all the parties, and I needed to experience something different. In 2015, I met Steve at Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer College, and this was the beginning of my journey with personal injury. It’s somewhere I never thought I’d find myself, yet I fell in love with it and never looked back. Upon beginning this three-week program, the fellow attorneys I met were successful, blessed in happiness and knowledge, and genuine. The first week hit me like a brick, or rather, a very warm, unanticipated hug. It was the first time I was in touch with my own Independence Day of being able to choose the way I find justice for my clients. Trial Lawyer College gave me tools to have a more meaningful experience while providing me with a more meaningful way to connect with my clients and other attorneys. And as I grow in my own Independence Day journey, the richness of having different tools in my toolbox, from being a dad, veteran, and a personal injury attorney, is that I have collected beautiful experiences that shed light on how I can continue to help and make a difference in the lives of others. I now see each one of these experiences as a step. One step at a time. Our independence is worth every single one of those steps.
CHRIS CAZARES
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POLARISINJURYLAW.COM | 425.637.1300
OVERCOMING INATTENTION
STRATEGIES TO FIGHT DISTRACTION
With our phones always on standby, we’re more easily distracted than ever. Then there are also interruptions by coworkers or family members, emails or instant messages that divert our attention, household chores that will “only take a minute,” coffee breaks, and daydreams. Constant distraction hurts us more than we realize, creating a feedback loop of inattention. It’s time we understand what all this multitasking is doing to our minds and figure out how to break the cycle. No matter how good you think you are at it, multitasking doesn’t exist. What we’re really doing is called task-switching. Our brains can concentrate on only one thing at a time, and the quicker we go back and forth between tasks, the less we pay attention, and the more likely we are to make mistakes. Even worse, research says it
takes us a whopping 23 minutes to regain our concentration after being interrupted.
you’ve got a deadline crunch, and there’s a reason for that. Tasks have a way of stretching out unnecessarily when we don’t have to follow any restrictions. So, make some! Determine how much time you need to complete a task, and then don’t allow yourself anymore. Ask a colleague for help staying accountable. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done. Though we each have to fight our own battles, this isn’t entirely our fault. Popular apps make billions of dollars by sucking our attention away from everything else, so we’re automatically at a disadvantage. And there may be even more than meets the eye. If you have difficulty concentrating, stress could be the underlying culprit. Get that under control, and distractions might suddenly lose some of their allure.
But what can you do? If you’ve ever been on a diet, you know that willpower has its limits. Simply promising you won’t check your email or phone rarely results in long-term success. But if technology is a big part of the problem, it can also be part of the solution. Try putting your email or phone notifications on silent. Or, consider a website blocker to keep you off distracting websites and an app that will lock distracting features on your phone. Low-tech solutions like a “do not disturb” sign and putting your phone in another room can also help.
And mental tricks can still have their place. You probably tend to become productive when
FIGHTING CHRONIC INFLAMMATION
YOUR DIET IMPACTS YOUR BODY’S RESPONSE
As the saying goes, you are what you eat. By this, we don’t mean that eating a cookie or two will pile on the excess weight. Experts have proven that eating a healthy and balanced diet affects much more than just our body weight, such as the way our body heals, responds to stimuli, and fights illness. Inflammation is part of your body’s natural response to certain stimuli as part of the healing process. Inflammation can occur after a tough workout when your muscles are working to recover, while your immune system is trying to fight off an infection, or due to injury. Sometimes, even if you’re just too stressed out, your body may react by retaining water and swelling.
Chronic inflammation, or inflammation that is persistent and goes untreated, can lead to larger health problems including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and other health concerns and complications. To keep inflammation at a minimum and reduce your risk of chronic inflammation, making good dietary choices is paramount. Professionals recommend focusing on foods with a high nutritional value that are rich in antioxidants and include healthy fats. Here is a list of some anti- inflammatory foods to work into your diet:
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An assortment of fruits, especially berries, as they contain antioxidants and many vitamins and minerals
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Nuts and seeds Tofu and soybeans Beans and legumes
Fatty fish rich in omega-3s such as salmon and tuna
Olives and olive oil
Green tea
Dark chocolate and cocoa
Even low levels of chronic inflammation can create potential health risks. To keep your body optimally operating and your inflammation in check, be cognizant of what you’re fueling your body with! Every meal counts!
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A variety of vegetables, especially leafy greens such as spinach, kale, broccoli, peppers, and avocado
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THEY CAN’T WHAT?
5 STRANGE THINGS THAT ARE BANNED IN THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS
The NFL No Ball Spinning Rule In the NFL, football spinning as a celebratory
In the world of sports, just like in life, players have rules and regulations that they must abide by, or they’re out! But just because they’re enforced doesn’t mean some rules make complete sense. Check out these five strange rules that ban seemingly normal activities in the world of sports, some without any explanation at all! The NHL Tuck Rule Having been in effect since 2013, Rule 9.5 governs uniforms and how they must be worn in the NHL. All protective equipment, except gloves, headgear, and goaltenders’ leg guards, must be worn under the uniform. The rule states that “players are not permitted to tuck their jersey into their pants in such a manner where the top padding of the pant … is exposed outside the jersey.”
action is banned. If a player does spin the football, he will be penalized. In previous seasons, players would spin or twirl the ball in the end zone — but, some took offense to it. The FIFA Stay Covered Rule In 2003, it was ruled that all FIFA players must keep their shirts on and no celebratory stripping was allowed. This had to do, in part, with the act appearing offensive to some, but even more so, advertisers were upset that their logos were not displayed on the shirtless athlete’s bodies. It makes sense, but only a little bit! The NBA No Logos Rule In the NBA, players can only display logos on their basketball shoes. According to item 5 of Section H in their handbook, the only area where they are able to show logos on their bodies, or as part of the uniform, is on their shoes.
Go figure! If players tuck their jerseys in, they’ll receive a penalty.
The NBA Social Media Rule Players in the NBA cannot use social media platforms during the game and 45 minutes before and after their games. In a world driven by social media, some may view this as harsh, and others as appropriate, but, either way, it may help reduce some fines from unruly posts!
No branded socks or sweatbands, and definitely no haircuts styled into a logo!
EASY VEGAN BAKED BEANS
INSPIRED BY NORACOOKS.COM
PUZZLE BREAK
July is National Baked Beans Month, and you don’t need bacon to celebrate this iconic side dish! This plant-based version will be a crowd-pleaser at your next vegan barbecue.
INGREDIENTS • 2 tbsp olive oil •
• • • •
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 yellow onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 3/4 cup molasses 1/2 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup ketchup
1 1/2 tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
• • • • •
2 tsp Sriracha
4 15-oz cans navy beans, drained and rinsed. 1/2 tbsp liquid smoke (optional)
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3/4 tsp salt
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. 2. In a large pot over medium heat, warm olive oil. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. 3. Add all of the remaining ingredients except the beans into the pot. Mix the sauce well, then stir in the beans. 4. Ladle the beans into a 9x13-inch pan and bake for 1 hour. Serve warm and enjoy!
(SOLUTION ON PG. 4)
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Helping Others on Their Independence Day Journey
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How Distractions Are Hurting Us
The Benefits of Anti-Inflammatory Foods
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Strange Items Banned in Sports
Easy Vegan Baked Beans
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Steve’s Corner
SUDUKO SOLUTION FROM PG. 3
STEVE LINGENBRINK IS THE FOUNDING PARTNER OF POLARIS INJURY LAW, FORMERLY LINGENBRINK LAW AND LINGENBRINK CAZARES INJURY LAWYERS. JUSTICE DELIVERED AND LIFE RESTORED STEVE’S CORNER:
This past year, Steve recovered a seven-figure settlement for our Polaris Injury Law client. After 40-plus years in the industry, Steve understands the needs of the client, the opposition, and the litigation landscape. Certain things just can’t be given back. Through tragic situations, many of our clients undergo significant loss and hardships — severe injuries, health complications, property damage, and large economic costs. Our job is to always help our client. We realize they were dealt a situation they did not ask for or expect. Yet, when our paths cross, they have made a decision to begin their comeback.
Steve led the charge in recovering a seven- figure settlement for an elderly client who was involved in a slip-and-fall incident on ice outside of a local grocery store. The store was found negligent because they were not only aware of the ice but also responsible for spraying their sidewalks in below freezing temperatures. Prior to the incident, our client led an incredibly active life, and despite her best efforts, she now leads a much different life. She and Steve walked an incredible journey that led to the best possible outcome for her case and especially her. Cases like hers are always about so much more than money — it was about improving her life after the accident through her courage of conviction. She received justice: acknowledgment that the defendant had
harmed her, the reassurance that it was not her fault, and a fair settlement.
Steve made sure he was by her side from injury to recovery. Injuries and damages are intimidating and traumatic, the claims process can be tricky and overwhelming, and the waiting period can be scary. But Polaris Injury Law is a team that is on your side. Some people would call this just another slip-and-fall case, but we know justice was delivered and a life was restored.
Ensuring we receive compensation for our clients isn’t just about a settlement value. This past year,
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