Treating Rusty Brains and Other Ailments

As the dawn of my double-nickel birthday approaches, I find myself experiencing a sense of gratitude for my health and mobility. While I am not always amused by the energetic pre-6:00 a.m. thumps to the top of my head from my 3-year old Sheltie, rousing me to take him for a quick two mile walk, once outside and underway, I feel a sense of happiness and accomplishment. Gotta love those endorphins--even before the coffee. Add my promise to myself to walk everyday during Lent in order to kickstart what is good for me, leads me to my blog topic. Years ago I read a stress study that the two most stressful life events are the death of a spouse or child closely followed by divorce. The best way to reduce stress is to exercise and meditate. As an attorney, I interact daily with those who are coping with high levels of stress. What better way to reduce one's stress than to lace up one's shoes and head out the door. The objective is not necessarily speed--though I know many runners and a few marathoners (you know who you are BT)--but just to have some quiet time in one's own head and move. The benefits of these excursions are amazing. Purportedly, a 30-minutes daily walk over a 24 month period could lead to a 25 pound weight loss. Exercise reduces one's risk of Alzheimer's, obesity,cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Walking, or other regular physical activity, helps to maintain cognitive function and memory--always helpful for witness recall :). Meditation has been shown to reduce stress hormones. A cup of coffee each day can lower one's risk of certain cancers. People with pets live longer than those without pets. Folks in a relationship live longer than those who live alone. Massage and touch decreases stress. Snuggling a pet, a child, or a significant other also reduces stress and releases endorphins. What a trifecta! Pet the dogs, hook up their leashes, walk them in the quiet sunrise, get back home in time for some quiet time and a cup of coffee. Of course, there's always chocolate . . . but that is a blog unto itself. So my professional advice to clients and non-clients is to take a walk. Listen to the birds. Enjoy the fresh air. Have a quiet moment with a cup of coffee, or a cup of coffee with a friend, even a furry, four-legged one who loves you unconditionally. The benefits will more than compensate for getting up a little earlier. Your brain will thank you.

It Ain't Easy Being Green

One of my goals at The Branch Law Firm, P L L C, is to be as paperless as possible. In order to achieve this goal I am relying on such notables as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates and others like them.  I have spent the first week of my practice working cases and installing software and setting up my hardware.  My ScanSnap S1500 is a remarkable little desktop scanner which is quite user-friendly.  I have scanned untold numbers of documents, categorized them, and shredded the hard copies with my handy-dandy OfficeMax crosscut shredder.  I found a nice 500 MB external hard drive to back up my files from my Hewlett-Packard desktop.  I am also relying on my iPad.  I know that my iPad is "cloud" oriented but I am hesitant to be completely reliant on something over which I have little control.  I love the Pages App.  And, here's a shout out to Rick Robertson at Koons Fuller for his very informative CLE about using the iPad.   I am drafting documents on my iPad from the comfort of my living room couch in the evening and e-mailing my work to myself in Word format.  I am still test driving other apps and software using the free trial periods offered by several manufacturers.  I think back on the summer of 1973 when I attended the University of Kansas Summer Science Program studying computer programming.   This is so far removed from those punch cards from the computer lab with their hanging chads.   I know once I get all of this set up and get in the habit of being green then it will be much easier than this initial set up.  Kermit, I feel your pain – it ain't easy goin' green.

Passing on Passwords

Welcome to The Branch Law Firm, PLLC's inaugural blog. After many years at a nationally prominent family law firm located in Dallas and San Antonio, I have opened a practice in picturesque Rockwall, Texas, ready to continue to provide quality legal services. While setting up the office, my dearly beloved asked: "If something happens, how do I access this stuff?". And,thus my first blog idea was born. Who do you trust enough give access to your passwords? Your bank accounts? Your credit card accounts? Your Facebook? Your Twitter? Your LinkedIn? Your blog? Your pin numbers? Should it be the executor/executive of your estate? The trustee of your trust? Your spouse? What if there is marital discord? Your sibling? A parent? An adult child? What if there is a breakdown in the familial relationship? What about your attorney? The person to whom you entrust your passwords should be someone who will keep the information safe and not access your accounts unless you become incapacitated or die. Another thought to ponder is that passwords should be changed frequently to thwart hackers. Your attorney has a special relationship with you called a fiduciary relationship. The Legal Dictionary at law.com defines a fiduciary relationship as: fiduciary relationship n. where one person places complete confidence in another in regard to a particular transaction or one's general affairs or business. The relationship is not necessarily formally or legally established as in a declaration of trust, but can be one of moral or personal responsibility, due to the superior knowledge and training of the fiduciary as compared to the one whose affairs the fiduciary is handling. Call me at 469-600-3334 (M-F 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST) at The Branch Law Firm, PLLC, to learn how you can secure your passwords for access by an authorized person of your choice in the event of your incapacity or death.