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Heidi Dearinger Business Development Coordinator    |
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Jenny Foster HR Manager Senior Employee Benefits Advisor |
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Jason Mayer Risk Manager |
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Laura Ahlstrom Personal Risk Advisor Special Needs Coordinator |
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Brain in the News August 25, 2010 The following is an article I received from Dr. Amen's e-newsletter. I think it is a brilliant step at acknowledging that our brains are truly in charge of so much that we do.... My thought on this issue is simple. Our brains are affected by everything we do. From the amount of water we drink, to the environment we are in. There is a chance that when someone's "personality" seems to be "off" and they are not behaving the way that they normally would or not making decisions which are in-line with their past, that there could be an imbalance in the brain that needs to be dealt with. I have no affiliation with Dr. Amen - nor have I met nor consulted with him. But some day I hope to.... And I think his insight is valuable enough to post for others to read when they have a chance. Enjoy!
Why do some kids ace their way through college, land great jobs, and enjoy success in their early careers and relationships while others wander aimlessly after high school, either drop out of college or change majors four times, get stuck in low-paying jobs or drift from gig to gig, continually ask their parents to bail them out financially, and have trouble keeping a steady significant other? If your young adult is drifting through life or underachieving, is it just a phase or could it be due in part to an imbalanced brain? This is something Joseph Annibali, M.D., our chief psychiatrist in our Reston clinic, has been studying for some time. He calls the inability of some young people to make their mark in life a “failure to launch,” and he’s currently writing a fascinating book about it. “One patient in his twenties is a perfect example of a failure to launch,” says Dr. Annibali. “Peter was a very bright guy, but he essentially sat on his bed for four years doing nothing. He was depressed, ate junk food, and smoked dope. His parents didn’t know what to do. We scanned Peter’s brain and then gave him supplements and medication to balance his brain. At our suggestion he also did neurofeedback (brainwave biofeedback), and he improved his diet. “A few months later, his ecstatic mother called to tell me he was now working more than 40 hours a week in a good job and had a good relationship with a stable relationship.” Dr. Annibali takes a unique approach to working with near-adults who are struggling in life. As a trained psychoanalyst as well as a psychiatrist, he looks at the whole person before recommending a treatment plan. He typically uses brain imaging to look at brain function, as well as evaluating psychological and emotional themes, such as a person’s sense of self, attachment issues, and inner unconscious conflicts. An example of an unconscious conflict is a young adult who has more on the ball than his father, but unconsciously holds himself back or sabotages himself because he fears surpassing his father’s success. In addition, according to Dr. Annibali, ADD is very common in the near-adult patients he sees, and treating that problem is critical to a successful “launch.” Plus… …our near-adults have to make the transition to adulthood when the prefrontal cortex (PFC) isn’t fully developed. The PFC, which is involved with judgment, impulse control, and planning, isn’t fully developed until about age 25. So our near adults aren’t equipped to always make the best decisions in their late teens and early 20s. Making things even more difficult is the enormously complex world our near-adults inhabit. They face an economy that’s going down tubes, a fast-changing social scene, and a toxic environment that is polluted with heavy metals and pesticides. So what can parents do to help? “No matter what, keep the lines of communication open. Don’t break chain of communication,” he says. “Even if your near-adult does something you don’t agree with, like move in with a significant other before marriage, don’t cut them off. Keep open the lines of communication.” Dr. Annibali has come up with many simple tips for near-adults to help smooth the transition to adulthood. Here are just three of them:
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BubblesAugust 23, 2010How much enjoyment do you get from bubbles? I can tell you that my love of them is likely higher than most.... On August 14th, EHL Insurance was one of the Sponsors for the Seattle Autism Walk. It was a gorgeous hot day and the purpose of our company being there was to support a very worthwhile cause and to promote awareness of our Special Needs Protection Plan. Although that part went well, the highlight of the day, for me, was not talking Insurance, but seeing the precious smiles on all the children's faces as they came to play with the 2 bubble machines that were running. There were Karate Chop Actions, poking fingers, and bubbles everywhere.... I was constantly thrown back in memory to Speech Therapy appointments with my son and the speech therapist in her sing-song voice saying: Baaah bbles.... BAH - BAH - BAH - Baaah bbles. As many parents of speech delayed children are aware, blowing bubbles, sucking out of a straw, and other activities are things which children can do to strengthen the muscles in their mouth. This benefits them further by enhancing their capability of speaking. It was such a great day - seeing the children so happy.... And being immersed in a group of people, where when a child has a melt-down, there are not looks of judgment thrown towards you - but rather looks of compassion. Happy children with bubbles afloat and parents with smiles spread wide - I couldn't ask for a better day or atmosphere to continue working on enhancing awareness. Have a great day! "No bubble is so iridescent or floats longer than that blown by the successful teacher. " ~ William Osler~ |
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Small but Mighty…North Kitsap Relay for Life raises over $89,000August 22, 2010On July 9th and 10th, I had the honor of participating for my fourth year in our local Relay for Life event. For anyone not familiar with Relay for Life www.relayforlife.com, it is one of the largest international grass roots fundraiser for cancer research and education through the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org.
No matter what the economic environment, the endurance of the human spirit showed up. The same local vendors came through with free pizza at midnight (thank you Bella Luna of Kingston), and our DJ was amazing again this year…never stopping to rest, she kept the tunes spinning and the events well paced. We enjoyed theme laps, frozen tee-shirt relays, the always fun Mr. Relay event where our good sported men dressed up in women’s clothing. The hottest day of the year, random outbreaks of squirt gun fights kept us all cool. Canine friends joined us on our man-made track, one seven week old puppy in particular walked until he finally put his nose down in the grass, tail in the air, asleep mid-stride.
In the wee hours we always enjoy an outdoor movie to keep us distracted from our blisters which often have a good head start by 1:00 am. This year it was “The Bucket List,” necessitating of course a “bucket” themed lap. It was nice to give pause and re-think my own personal bucket list as I walked at times in silence in honor of my own mother, a cancer survivor. As I write this blog I know that nearly anyone reading it has unfortunately been touched by cancer in some way. Cancer does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, or ethnicity. It has become an “enemy” to many including my own family. When it hit too close to home in my own world, I remember being angry. Four years later, while I still want to see cancer banished to the far corners of the earth, I do recognize that the adversity that rides along with cancer can also bring out the very best in many. In our hardship we often find comfort in newfound and healthy places, endurance beyond imagine, and strength we never thought possible. Hats off to the North Kitsap community and every other town, large and small, that are home to these inspirational events. In the midst of one of our country’s more severe economic climates, with a smaller number of sponsors and walkers, raising over $89,000 is no small accomplishment! This blog article is dedicated to the countless number of families touched by cancer and those fighting for their lives. My prayers are with you, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to put my money where my mouth is and set my sneakers to the track in your honor. |
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When the Thunder RollsAugust 13, 2010Even though our area certainly does not have the number of lightning storms that other parts of the country encounter, the following safety tips are important to consider.  http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/outdoors.htm Take a peak as this article was provided by the National Weather Service and reviews the safest places for you to be - when the Thunder Rolls. |
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FMCSA Issues Guidance for Retention of Scanned Logs
August 9, 2010 Effective immediately, drivers may scan and transmit an electronic copy of each log to the motor carrier and retain the original log – thus creating two copies. Drivers must still retain logs for the current and previous seven days when on duty. Motor carriers relying on this guidance must retain electronic copies of the logs and supporting documents for six months. |
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August 5, 2010 Here are five ways companies can keep risk to a minimum and fully capitalize on the busy season: 1. Hire responsible helpers. In beefing up your crews for the busy season, don't forget to do some careful screening of your applicants. Check on referrals and ask questions about the applicant's work experience, ethic and attention to detail. If your primary source of labor is local college students, don't be shy to ask for grades. Remember, you're looking for brains as well as brawn. 2. Don't breeze through the training. You want to get your new help out in the field just as much as they'd like to avoid watching hours of instructional videos. Make sure your program keeps the attention of your trainees by mixing in some hands-on tests in the warehouse in between lessons. The faster your helpers pick up proper techniques, the less chance there is that they'll make mistakes handling your customers' belongings. 3. Keep your crews healthy and happy. Mistakes happen when people are tired, overworked or unsatisfied with their jobs. Make sure your summer crew is well aware of the importance of hydration, taking appropriate breaks and on-the-job safety. Keep your employees happy by showing your appreciation for all their hard work and scheduling a summer barbecue or two. 4. Reward attention to safety. Research shows small rewards can go a long way. Hold monthly competitions for safety standards and give the winner a gift card or other fun prizes. 5. Keep the bar high. It is easy to passively allow guidelines and regulations to loosen, especially when your crew is working longer, harder days. Set and keep the bar high by communicating high expectations regularly. |
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