Check out our February newsletter!
THE SEAMY SCANDAL OF VALENTINE’S DAY’S ORIGINS
Official-sounding notice designed to make you wanna read this more: Some readers may find this content offensive or explicit. As Valentine’s Day arrives with cascades of cards, chocolates, command displays like overpriced steak dinners, and the most eloquent professions of love $3.99 can buy at the drug store, plus no shortage of empty loneliness for singles, I wondered how we got here. I mean, it’s more than just a greeting card company conspiracy, right?
Oh yeah. How Valentine’s Day began is not what I expected. Frankly, it’s sleazy and even a little sinister.
According to a Valentine’s Day 2022 article on NPR.com, Valentine’s Day began with the ancient Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia, celebrated Feb. 13–15. Brace yourselves for how this went down. Simply put, the Romans got drunk and naked. The men sacrificed a goat and a dog, skinned them, and beat the women with the hides. Women thought that would make them fertile. It also featured what NPR describes as a “matchmaking lottery” where men drew the names of women from a jar, who were then, shall we say, “assigned” to them for the festival.
It was the poets who gave Valentine’s Day its softer, sweeter appearance. Even Chaucer and Shakespeare exalted it.
Then came the greeting cards, way before Hallmark. Believe it or not, they became popular in the Middle Ages.
Speaking of Hallmark, Valentine’s Day cards were added to its inventory in 1913, and the holiday hasn’t been the same since. The National Retail Federation estimated last year’s Valentine’s Day spending at $23.9 billion. The most popular gift items are candy (56%), greeting cards (40%), flowers (37%), and dinner dates (31%). No doubt about it, Valentine’s Day can generate a lot of joy and excitement. Maybe more than any other, this holiday proves things that start off bad can turn into good. And that’s what we try to do for our folks here at Holland & Usry who come to us with bad injuries and family conflict. Know that we’re here to help you turn things around for good.
On a historical note, I’m pretty sure this is the part of the Roman Empire that contributed to its fall, not the rise.
Speaking of history, it appears third-century emperor Claudius II executed two men on Feb. 14 in different years, both of whom were named Valentine. The Catholic Church deemed them martyrs, and they became the namesakes for the church’s Saint Valentine’s Day mass. Two centuries later, Pope Gelasius I scheduled Saint Valentine’s Day on the same day as Lupercalia, with the intent to eliminate that lustful pagan carnival.
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YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT, TOO
Developing a Healthy Work-Life Balance
In reality, perfectionism is out of reach. Constantly striving for perfection can be exhausting, draining, and destructive; at home and in the office. Take time to unplug. If the first thing you do in the morning is go online and check emails, or if you’re responding to work texts at the family dinner table, you’ve certainly crossed the line on balancing your work and home life. Quality time at home should be focused solely on your family, and hours at the office are for business activities. Once you mix the two, it can be tough to turn back.
Often, the desire to succeed in our professional lives can take precedence over everything else in our private lives, including our well-being, family, friends, and hobbies. Moreover, finding a healthy balance between the two can be challenging as they can begin to blend. Here are the four best ways to keep your work and personal life separate while excelling at both!
Love what you do. Loving your job is easier said than done, right? If you can land an enjoyable career that isn’t restraining, you’ll find it’s much easier to leave work at work and
Take breaks.
Even 30-second breathers throughout your day can make a drastic difference in improving stress levels, building
your concentration, and helping you to feel more engaged — it can even help you to enjoy your job a bit more! By implementing these tips into your routine, you’ll be on your way to a healthier work-life balance, which translates into feeling less stressed, having fewer health issues, being more productive, and having a happier life at work and home.
home at home. When you’re unhappy with your job, it can affect your overall happiness, and feelings of despair can carry into your personal life. Don’t be a perfectionist. Career burnout can drastically impact your personal life, so stop trying to control everything.
TESTIMONIAL
–William B. “Well, as a normal working person when I was injured on my job and had therapy and a lot of pain, then had a reverse total shoulder surgery replacement and was not able to work, I needed someone a lot smarter than me to deal with workers’ comp. So, we looked up Holland & Usry on Google, and from the first visit, I knew we had the right firm. They were very interested in helping us and making us feel comfortable. Each step they took kept us informed and encouraged that we would be all right. If you want a winner, hire Holland & Usry. You won’t be disappointed. We had a wonderful experience and thank Rob and his staff so much!”
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PARTIAL FINGER AMPUTATION SETTLEMENT DISPUTE CASE
I had the joy of representing a spunky, sweet 24-year-old who sustained a tragic work injury. Christan worked at a local factory when her left middle and ring fingers were partially amputated after getting caught in a bailer machine she operated. Basically, on her middle finger, she lost from the bottom of her nail up and half the nail on her ring finger. Christan’s injuries required two operations: one to repair the amputations and another to remove scar tissue and damaged cartilage from her left middle finger. Her surgeon did an excellent job. In the end, he released her with no work restrictions. When you’re just 24 and you’ve lost two fingertips, that’s some of the best medical news you can get. In a typical case, South Carolina workers’ compensation settlements revolve around impairment ratings, work restrictions, and future care. High impairment ratings, extremely limiting work restrictions, and expensive future medical care result in bigger settlements. Christan didn’t have those factors. The surgeon gave her a 13% impairment rating for her left hand. She
had no work restrictions. She needed no future medical care. I made it plain to Christan that her case was different because she is not only young, but she’s also a woman. That makes a huge difference in how she views her permanent disfigurement, which can be considered in a South Carolina workers’ compensation settlement. In the demand letter that drives negotiations, I pointed out to the insurance company’s lawyer that Christan is stuck with her disfigurement for longer, and it hurts her more. I made sure the insurance company remembered that she is a unique person with unique pain, as she has forever lost things women her age love to do. I did this using the reasons Christan gave me:
I also pointed out the challenges she faces in daily life. It’s hard to cut food, button her pants, and do her hair. Our negotiations got Christan a good settlement for her South Carolina workers’ compensation partial finger amputation case. The insurance company agreed to pay a settlement representing the loss of 42% of her left hand, which in Christan’s case was $25,000.
• “I can’t get my nails done anymore.”
• “I won’t be able to comfortably take engagement pictures with my ring on my finger.” • “It’s uncomfortable when I shop because people stare at my left hand.”
Past outcomes don’t guarantee future results. Every case is different, and all cases depend on unique facts and laws.
“We love because He first loved us.” –1 John 4:19 “‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your Good News
Feta Chicken Burgers
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients
•
1/4 cup finely chopped cucumber
• 1 tsp garlic powder • 1/2 tsp Greek seasoning • 1/4 tsp black pepper • 1 1/2 lbs lean ground chicken • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese • 6 whole wheat hamburger buns, split and toasted
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
BURGERS: • 1/2 cup chopped roasted sweet red pepper
Directions 1. Preheat broiler and mix chopped cucumber and mayonnaise. 2. For the burgers, mix the red pepper, garlic powder, Greek seasoning, and black pepper. Add chicken and cheese; mix lightly but thoroughly (the mixture will be sticky). Shape into 6 patties about 1/2-inch thick. 3. Broil burgers, remembering to cook both sides thoroughly. Serve on buns with cucumber sauce. If desired, top with lettuce and tomato. Enjoy!
neighbor as yourself.’” –Matthew 22:36-39
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* This newsletter is intended to educate the public about personal injury, workers’ compensation, criminal defense, and family law issues. You can copy and distribute it as long as you copy the entire newsletter. But the newsletter is not intended to be legal advice; you should ask a lawyer about your specific case. Every case is different, and all case outcomes depend on unique facts and laws.
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INSIDE this issue
1
1. Valentine’s Day’s Origins
2. How to Achieve a Healthy Work- Life Balance
2
2. Testimonial
3
3. Partial Finger Amputation Settlement Dispute Case
3. Feta Chicken Burgers
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4. Retrain Your Brain With Habit Tracking
If you no longer want to receive this newsletter, call Pam at 864.582.0416 or email Rob@bhollandlawfirm.com .
YES, HABIT TRACKING ACTUALLY WORKS!
The Easy Way to Stay Motivated
Back in the 1980s and ’90s, almost every sports movie included a training montage — and no montage was complete without a giant paper calendar hanging on the hero’s wall. As time ticked by and the big game or contest approached, the hero crossed the days out one by one. Each square was a success, and it was another day of training down! It sounds silly, but according to habit expert and “Atomic Habits” author James Clear, that giant calendar isn’t just movie magic. It actually works! For some people, tracking their habits — literally writing down their successes and failures in order to keep a record — is an effective way to build and stick with new routines, like New Year’s resolutions. In his book, Clear writes that habit tracking works because it makes a particular behavior “obvious, attractive, and satisfying.” Tracking our habits in a visible place (like a calendar on the wall) reminds us to keep our “streak” of good behavior alive and holds us accountable if we mess up. It also just feels good to cross a square off of the calendar. “The most effective form of motivation is progress,” Clear explains. “When we get a signal that we are moving forward, we become more motivated to continue down that path. In this way, habit tracking can have an additive effect on motivation. Every small win feeds your desire.”
You don’t need to use a ’90s calendar to track your habits in 2022. Instead, Clear recommends leveraging technology to make tracking as easy as possible. If you want to build better spending habits, put your credit card statements (which track your spending automatically) front and center. If you want to take more steps each day, buy a Fitbit so you don’t have to count them. That said, if you go the pen- and-paper route — or prefer an Excel spreadsheet — Clear
suggests tracking your habit immediately after you finish it. That way, you’ll associate your positive behavior with the rush of satisfaction you get from checking a day off the calendar.
To learn more about Clear’s methods and download his free Habit Tracker Template, visit AtomicHabits.com/tracker.
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