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November 2022
THE TRUSTED ADVISOR Any Given Sunday
CELEBRATING AMERICA’S FAVORITE SPORT
Like any football fan, we have dedicated our last several Sundays to the game — and there are plenty more weekends of the season left. Nov. 5 marks American Football Day, and what’s more American than football? Grab some nachos and a foam finger because we’re about to celebrate our nation’s greatest game! Zac: I’ve been a football fan for as long as I can remember. It was almost a necessity when growing up in a household with Broncos season tickets. My parents added their names to the very long waiting list before I was born, eventually secured their tickets, and worked their way up to better and better seats over the years. Based on the games I remember, we had an excellent view. We were at the stadium every Sunday when there was a home game. We would pack some food and go a little early to watch the players warm up before the game. I grew up in the era of John Elway, which was always exciting. He had a lot of rough years but found significant success at the end of his career. He remains one of my favorite players. Then there was Terrell Davis. He retired young but had some great years for the Broncos while he played. Going to those games was a tradition until my family moved away from Colorado, but we kept the tickets. I mainly sell them now, but I love going to a game every few years when I get the chance. There’s no other game quite like football. The athleticism of the players is incredible; their size, strength, and speed are second to none. But the game also involves a lot of planning and forethought. It’s like one giant chess game but with snacks and much more excitement.
Nick: I’m originally from Wisconsin and was raised on the Green Bay Packers in the era of Brett Farve. He was a gunslinger, and you never quite knew what he would do. Then we got Aaron Rodgers, so we’ve had 30 years of incredible quarterbacks to celebrate. I remain a Green Bay fan and convinced my wife and kids to join the club. The one person we’ve never been able to get on board is my mom, a native Chicagoan. To this day, she’ll show up in a Bears jersey when we get together on Sundays. But while I love the Packers, my heart is in college football. My dad was also a big Michigan Wolverines fan growing up. After we moved to Florida, we started a tradition of tailgating all Saturday, watching the game, and partying afterward. It was an all-weekend event. Later, I attended the University of Florida and became a cheerleader for the Gators. I joined the sport in high school to spend more time with girls, but I became pretty skilled and received a partial scholarship during law school. I wasn’t big enough to play football, but this was another way I could be a part of the excitement. Sometimes, the football players would run right into us on the sidelines, and there’s nothing quite like being that close to the action. I’m grateful for that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and proud to keep cheering my team on from the stands. NordenLeacox.com | 407-801-3000 1 –Zac Leacox & Nick Norden
Why Do I Constantly Think About This?
How to Manage Intrusive Thoughts
Right Place, Right Time
Many people deal with unwelcome, intrusive thoughts every day. We’ve all experienced unwanted images or notions racing through our minds, and it can be
LATE-NIGHT DRIVER BECOMES A SUDDEN HERO
difficult to concentrate on what we need to be doing. These thoughts can also trigger feelings of anxiety, worry, and shame. But know you’re not alone — some estimate that 6 million Americans are affected, so many can empathize with what you’re going through. Here is some good advice about intrusive thoughts and how to manage them in a healthy way.
Nicholas Bostic had a heated argument with his girlfriend one night, so he went out driving around to clear his head and relax. Little did he know he would become a hero that same night. During his drive, he witnessed a raging fire that had engulfed a family’s home. Bostic stopped his car and ran inside despite the flames. He immediately began yelling for anyone since no one appeared to be inside the house — not even emergency personnel. His cries woke up 18-year-old Seionna Barrett, the oldest of five children, and she gathered her siblings together to exit the home. Bostic ran to Barrett and her young siblings, and he helped her take the children outside. But Barrett then told Bostic that her 6-year-old sister wasn’t with them. Without a second thought, Bostic again entered the home, hoping to rescue the little girl. The fire continued to spread quickly, and Bostic described it as a “black lagoon” of smoke on the ground floor. He checked all of the bedrooms but couldn’t find the little girl. Then, as he approached a window to exit the home, he heard a child’s cry. Bostic then had an internal conversation with himself: He knew the child needed help, and although he was terrified to go back downstairs through the fire and smoke, he wouldn’t quit. After wrapping his shirt around his mouth, he ran through the home, following the girl’s cries for help. Once he found her, he picked her up, ran upstairs, and jumped out the window onto the lawn. All of the children were safe and suffered no injuries. Bostic received first- degree burns and severe cuts on his arm. He was airlifted to the nearest hospital once first responders arrived at the scene. Bostic’s cousin created a GoFundMe to pay for Bostic’s medical bills, and it collected $556,000.
What are intrusive thoughts?
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted ideas that occur without warning at any time, often triggered by stress or anxiety, or even short-term biological factors, like hormone shifts. They can come in many forms, and people often worry about what they mean, so naturally, they try to control or stop the ideas altogether. But trying to prohibit these thoughts can make them more persistent.
What can you do?
Instead of pushing these thoughts out of your mind, acknowledge that they are intrusive concepts and allow them to linger. Understand they will pass, but prepare yourself for other unwanted thoughts. Most importantly, push through and continue to complete your tasks and errands when the thoughts occur. If you try to control, suppress, question, act, or engage with intrusive thoughts, you’ll likely be even more fixated on them. You’ll feel more in control if you allow them to pass through your brain instead of trying to avoid and ignore them. Intrusive thoughts can feel distressing, but allowing them to freely enter and exit your mind will provide you with ease — even if it doesn’t seem that way. However, if intrusive ideas persist and continually impair your ability to work or do things you enjoy, seek information from a mental health professional. You’re never alone in your struggles, so don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it.
Today, Bostic is healthy and healing. He now has a new perspective on life and is looking forward to whatever his future might hold.
2 NordenLeacox.com | 407-801-3000
I WANT MY MONEY BACK!
Recent Graduate Sues Her College
College graduates are eager to get into the workforce and start using their newly acquired knowledge in the “real world.” However, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, only 20% of U.S. college students in 2009 had a job after they graduated. In 2009, Trina Thompson found herself in that 80% of unemployed graduates, and she wanted to do something about it.
Career Advancement shows preferential treatment to students with high GPAs — not students like herself who had a low GPA.
In response to the case, Monroe College spokesman Gary Axelbank said, “The lawsuit is completely without merit. While it’s clear that no college, especially in this economy, can guarantee employment, Monroe College remains committed to working with all its students … to prepare them for careers and to support them during their job search.”
After graduating from Monroe College in New York, Thompson couldn’t find a suitable job. So she filed a $70,000 case against her school (the amount of her tuition for her bachelor’s degree) and $2,000 to compensate her for what she endured while searching for a job. In her lawsuit, she claimed that the college’s career counselors promised career advice and job leads but didn’t work hard enough to find her a job. In addition, she suggested that Monroe’s Office of Have a
But Thompson or the college didn’t have to worry about attending trial because the case didn’t make it that far. Her case
might have stood up in court if she hadn’t received a job offer. Her media attention and IT degree caught the eye of Steve Bellamy, CEO of The Ski Channel. He loved her hunger and willingness to put herself out there, and he offered her a position at his company. Thompson got the job, so her case was eventually dissolved.
Laugh
Apple Cranberry Crisp
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients
•
3 cups peeled and chopped tart apples
• • • • •
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• •
1 1/2 cups cranberries
3/4 cup packed brown sugar, divided
1/3 cup butter, cold
Vanilla ice cream (optional)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a large bowl, combine apples, cranberries, 1/4 brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. 3. Grease an 8-inch baking dish and pour the mixture into it. 4. In a small bowl, mix flour and the remaining brown sugar. Cut in cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle this over the fruit. 5. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If desired, serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!
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Inside This Edition
2 1 Why Zac and Nick Love Football Season A Healthy Way to Manage Intrusive Thoughts
Man Saves 5 From a Burning Home Recent Graduate Sues Her College Apple Cranberry Crisp It’s National Gratitude Month!
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Thanksgiving Is About More Than Food It’s About Showing Gratitude
Celebrate your challenges. Sometimes struggles and battles in our lives can weigh us down. But when you persevere and continue to push forward, you will find success. Challenges help you improve and strengthen your abilities and resilience, so celebrate the progress you’ve made. Showing gratitude for challenges and negative experiences allows us to acknowledge humility and appreciate
As we prepare for our Thanksgiving feasts, Thursday night football games, and Black Friday shopping, take some time to show gratitude for those around you and for what you have. Here are a few ways to practice gratitude this month. Appreciate everything. Get into the habit of being grateful for the little things in your life. It can be easy to acknowledge the “big” things, but nothing is too small to be thankful for. You can be grateful the weather is nice and sunny, that you received the package you’ve been waiting for, or that you got out of bed today. Don’t leave out anything when practicing gratitude. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present and aware of what’s happening around you. So, instead of being overwhelmed by what you need to do tomorrow or next week, focus on the present moment and enjoy the time you spend solo or with your loved ones. Live in the moment and take one day at a time. Tomorrow will surely come, and you only have a limited amount of time in the present.
growth in our lives. Keep a journal.
Writing down the things you’re grateful for will remind you of all the great things you have when other things aren’t going so well. So, keep a journal about what you’re grateful for each day or week — even if it’s just small things at first. Your perspective on life will change, and it will get easier to see the good things and to feel grateful for things you were likely overlooking. Showing gratitude is something we should do every day, all throughout the year — not just during the holidays. So, try to practice mindfulness and gratitude using these tips! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
4 NordenLeacox.com | 407-801-3000
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