A New Definition of Gratitude
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Greetings!
As we read and hear stories daily of front-line coronavirus workers, our definition of gratitude has been reshaped.
We are in awe of what medical and healthcare professionals are doing, volunteering every day to make sure that all of us are safe, while risking their own safety each time they meet a new patient. They are one of the major barriers that stand between each one of us and Covid-19. We will be forever grateful that they have been here for our friends, co-workers, family and other loved ones in their times of need. They have chosen to stand in for us and provide comfort to our loved ones as they suffer. Too often, but for the courage and humanity of our medical responders, Covid-19 victims are forced to suffer alone. We are also beyond thankful for all of the grocery store workers, delivery drivers, public transit operators, bank tellers, teachers and others providing services that previously were considered "just" part of life.
In return for their sacrifices, our first responders have asked us to do just one thing. Stay home. If we do, according to virtually every global experience and scientific authority, this will pass, and eventually we will be safe.
Like you, we all are looking forward to the end of the pandemic, and physically reuniting with families, friends, and colleagues once it’s safe for us to do so.
Until then, we are continuing to practice law seamlessly even with the sheltering mandate in place. The courts are currently operating on a very limited basis, but thanks to technology, they continue to serve all of us, and we are staying in touch with our clients, meeting with opposing counsel and our experts, taking depositions, conducting motions, mediations and other meetings remotely.
If there is anything the Lane & Lane team can do to be helpful to you and your loved ones during this challenging time, please let us know. In the meantime, stay safe and be well.
#besmartdoyourpart
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Stephen I. Lane
Managing Partner
312-332-1400 - office
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"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone
across the water to create many ripples."
Mother Teresa
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Glenbrook Hospital is the designated COVID-19 hospital for the NorthShore University HealthSystem and their ICU is
asking for donations of single-patient use stethoscope kits so they can accurately check vitals. Steve and Sally Lane donated 10 kits.
You can order them here, and have them delivered directly to the hospital, attention Natalie Robin, RN – Intensive Care Unit.
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In March,
Lane & Lane sponsored dinner for
Skokie Hospital's ER Department. The feast for the hard-working team was prepared and delivered by
Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen in Chicago.
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Tips for Keeping Sane, Productive, and Professional
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To shave or not to shave? Are afternoon breaks appropriate? Is it okay to eat a mid-morning snack during a conference call? Millions of us are now working from home, wrestling with how to operate professionally and productively while maintaining our sanity. Here are a few ideas we thought you might find helpful.
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Make sure data security is a top priority. If you're accessing confidential data remotely, take the necessary steps to ensure that young family members don't happen to find client information.
Give clients a head's up.
Does Fido bark so loudly at the squirrels that you can't hear what is being said on the other end of the phone? If so, at the start of a call, just warn your client that he or she might get serenaded by your pooch.
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"Taking a walk during my lunch break has helped me a lot!
Jessica Gomez, Legal Assistant
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Build in extra preparation time
. If your online meeting starts at 2 pm, log on and/or call in early. You can't bank on technology working perfectly.
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Change your mindset. Think of working from home as an opportunity to be more productive since there are fewer distractions and interruptions than when you're in the office. (Unless, of course, your kids, Fido, or your filthy refrigerator continually demands your attention.)
Keep in touch — frequently — with your colleagues. You're no longer a few desks or offices away. Nor are you bumping into one another in the lunchroom or the elevator. You should establish a schedule for checking-in with your supervisor or coworkers to make sure everyone is aware of any challenges you're experiencing as well as the progress you're making on critical projects.
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Visit online regularly with family and friends. Now is the time to get comfortable being in front of the camera. You can use Facetime, Messenger, or Zoom to lay eyes on your loved ones that you can't connect with in person.
Look for online training and professional development opportunities. If business is slow, or you are only working part-time, it may make sense to take a course to enhance your skills.
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"We have a list on our fridge listing all the things we are thankful for during this time... such as catching up on movies, revisiting old hobbies, and having time to do yoga in the morning."
Kellie Snyder, Associate Attorney
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Don't be too hard on yourself. If you aren't as productive as you were in the office, that's to be expected. It could take a while to adjust to a new work routine, let alone a personal one (e.g., no commute time to decompress after a long day). Set boundaries, take breaks, go for walks at lunch time, and ask others who are working from home for the first time what steps they've taken to boost their productivity. As you've likely heard many times... we're all in this together.
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Last month we shared examples of how businesses and individuals in Chicago have stepped up to help combat the impact of COVID-19. Here are a few others.
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The
University of Chicago set up a program to help local residents, businesses and nonprofits in the community. They are offering short-term bridge funds for small businesses to provide immediate interim relief.
Learn more here.
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International Medical Corps (IMC) is a nonprofit that provides relief during disasters. They are planning to establish at least one mobile field hospital in Chicago, and others across the country. Lake Bluff-based
AbbVie is funding the initiative.
Learn more.
Are you looking for a better understanding of the magnitude of COVID-19? You aren't alone. That's why
Narrative Science, an AI-powered data storytelling startup born out of Northwestern University's journalism and computer science programs, is trying to help. They are taking the data collected by Johns Hopkins University and the World Health Organization and turning it into succinct stories that interpret the numbers and graphs in an unbiased way.
You can read the stories they've published so far here.
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If you hear of an organization or individual taking measures to help
Chicago-area residents manage the impact of COVID-19, please email the story to us (
[email protected]
) to include in our next newsletter.
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If you or someone you care about has been injured by someone else's negligence or fault,
and you're ready to take action to obtain justice - the full, fair and complete compensation you deserve - please contact our Chicago-based personal injury law firm today.
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Questions? Call us at 312-332-1400 or
contact us
.
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