The Healthy Lawyer Blog

Zoom Interviews on YouTube!
December 8, 2020

We all know that most people set intentions and resolutions for the new year in January. However, 2020 has shown us just how fragile life can be. If there is something you would like to try, a specific goal you have in mind, or a change you would like to make in your life, there is no time like the present.

It may seem overwhelming to dive into something new at the end of the year and around the holiday season, but I encourage you to take small steps that will help you get started. Think about what it is that you would like to accomplish. Then determine specific action that will move you closer to your goal(s). Once you have made an effort to plan, it will be easier to hold yourself accountable.

An example of a new venture I have started recently is hosting Zoom Interviews with colleagues and friends for my YouTube Channel. Of course, collaborating in person would be preferred, but I am enjoying filming these videos via Zoom. Ultimately, I hope to help those who are considering the divorce process or other family matters in a healthy way.

Often, when someone is contemplating divorce, they will need assistance beyond an attorney. It is such an honor for me to be able to introduce other professionals that frequently assist my Clients. So far, I have filmed videos with colleagues in real estate, mortgage, mental health, and collaborative law industries.

My first interview, which recently went live, is a video with realtor Alicia Spears, who is pictured below.

Alicia and I met a few years ago and we both serve on the Downtown Orlando National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP) Leadership Team.

If you are interested in watching our interview and others in the future, be sure to subscribe to my Channel and hit the notification bell to receive alerts when new videos are posted.

Below is a link to my Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/Markslawfla

Thanks for your continued support.

Tom Marks (The Healthy Lawyer)

Happy (Early) Thanksgiving!
November 17, 2020

First, I want to start off by saying “thank you” to those of you who have shown support regarding my new YouTube series. I appreciate everyone’s engagement and am always happy to see new subscriber notifications. This channel has been a healthy way for me to continue marketing during the pandemic since we all know that everyone has different comfort levels when it comes to meeting in person or virtually.

Speaking of health, the holiday season is quickly approaching. As someone who continues to prioritize healthy eating and wellness in general, I wanted the focus of this blog to be a message of encouragement. It is important for me to lead by example and remain accountable, especially during the holidays. Some of you may be feeling overwhelmed by making holiday arrangements during a pandemic. That is absolutely understandable. We are all doing our best to make the best choices for ourselves and our families.

If you are feeling stressed or unmotivated to celebrate given our current circumstances, I would like to remind you to give yourself grace. This year has been filled with unfortunate circumstances that for the most part, have been beyond our control. Many of our fellow Americans have experienced loss and financial hardship due to the pandemic. It is important for us to be mindful of those who are struggling and offer our help, when appropriate. With Thanksgiving just days away, let us all go into the holiday season with intentional gratitude and a generous spirit.

Our Thanksgiving gatherings may look different this year, due to social distancing and safety guidelines related to the Coronavirus. This season is the perfect opportunity for us to embrace technology and connect with our loved ones via text, FaceTime, or a phone call. It can be easy to become isolated if we don’t make an effort to communicate with others. Relationships are always at the top of my personal gratitude list. Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends and family, especially those who you are not able to see in person this year.

I’m sure the 2020 holiday season will be remembered differently than years past, but it will also be the year that forced us to reflect and get creative in terms of celebrations and maintaining a sense of normalcy. Despite the challenges we continue to face this year, I encourage each of you to prioritize your mental, physical and spiritual health. This includes allowing yourself to enjoy your Thanksgiving meal and time with friends and family.

Do you have a recipe of a Thanksgiving staple that you would like to share? I would love to hear from you! Simply reply to this email.

Blessings to you and your family,

Tom Marks

The Healthy Family Law Attorney is on YouTube!
October 27, 2020

Those of you who follow The Marks Law Firm, P.A. on social media are probably aware that I recently started a new YouTube series called The Healthy Family Law Attorney. My first video went up in early October and my second video went up last Wednesday. Who knows, when you are reading this, I may have three videos on our Channel.

You may be wondering what inspired this new series. Well, of course my blog played a role. But the pandemic has also contributed in a way. My creative juices have been flowing since we have been spending so much time at home. Everyone is relying on technology, now more than ever. Video content allows us the opportunity to reach a larger audience. So, I have made a commitment to making sure my firm has a consistent presence on YouTube.

Getting started was very humbling for me. I had a lot to learn. Anyone with experience in filming or video production knows how many details go into creating good content. Not only do you need good content, there’s also lighting, sound, thumbnails, transitions, video descriptions, the list goes on.

Our firm has posted some videos on YouTube in the past, but we had no consistency as far as our uploads were concerned. There wasn’t a schedule for weekly or even monthly videos. We posted videos when our attorneys participated in speaking engagements, but the editing was minimal, and we weren’t really aware of everything that goes into maintaining a YouTube Channel.

My Team and I have been working together to grow our Channel. The process takes a team effort. We want to reach potential Clients and referral sources and give our viewers a glimpse of who we are, as well as, what we strive to offer those who need assistance with family law matters.

If you haven’t had an opportunity to check out my first two videos, I will link each of them below.

My first video served as an introduction to the series: The Healthy Family Law Attorney.

https://youtu.be/HWzE8dv4ZRo

In my second video, I talked about how Collaborative Law can be a healthier alternative to litigation, especially in the divorce process.

https://youtu.be/vjci7u6VYDk

I would appreciate it if any of my loyal readers would consider subscribing to my Channel. New videos will be posted every Wednesday at 12 noon EST.

Let me know if you have any feedback and leave a comment if you would like. I enjoy hearing from all of you. Of course, the extrovert in me welcomes conversation.

Thank you in advance for your support of this new venture. My goal here is to provide a sense of hope and health to my audience.

Tom Marks

Healthy Greetings From the Beach!
October 8, 2020

It is hard to believe that October is already here. Months have flown by throughout 2020 and I often find myself having to mentally catch up with where we are now. I’m sure for many of us, the pandemic has impacted our goals, travel plans, expectations and perspective on life in general.

While there is so much suffering going on in our world, it is important for me to remember who is in control. My faith grounds me in moments when it would be easy to be consumed by the media or overwhelmed by the state of our country. Each day we have with our loved ones is a gift. Although the virus has forced us all to deal with social distancing, modify gatherings with family and friends, and in some cases, we are working remotely, there are many opportunities for us to practice gratitude.

Personally, I am thankful for my relationships with God, my family, my friends, my Team at The Marks Law Firm and the many friends and supporters of The Marks Law Firm. I have to say also how grateful I am for my dog, Maverick. He is a constant in my life and his companionship brings me so much joy.

The unique relationships I have with my Clients, who trust me and my Firm during such a vulnerable and often difficult season in their lives are also blessings to me. It is truly a privilege to serve others and honor God in the process.

Below is a photo of Maverick and me. He is enjoying a vacation as well.

Those of you who know me well can attest to my commitment to my work and I will admit that sometimes it is a struggle for me to take a step back and give myself a break. But I do believe in the importance of rest and relaxation. In fact, as I am writing this, my wife Linda and I are enjoying the Florida sunshine at the beach. In order for me to be at my best in the office and at home, I know that I need to take care of myself. As the saying goes, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.”

I would encourage you all to allow yourselves the opportunity to recharge when you can. Even in the midst of a pandemic, we owe it to ourselves and each other to prioritize experiences that bring us joy and peace. If your schedule allows, plan a day trip to your favorite city and go exploring with your loved ones or even by yourself. Self-care looks different for everyone. Do what restores and energizes you, safely of course.

So many elements of our lives have shifted due to circumstances out of our control this year. It is important to keep living and not take a single day for granted.

Sending waves your way from the beach,

The Healthy Lawyer

Fellowship with Friends!
September 10, 2020

Last week I had the opportunity to host a handful of my friends and colleagues from the National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP) at my home as part of our ABB—Anything But Business events. While our monthly meetings with the entire chapter still take place virtually via Zoom, as the Director of the group, it is important for me to still have the opportunity to meet with others in person, even if in smaller groups to connect and share life.

Our fun evening was definitely a group effort. It should come as no surprise that I provided fresh homemade guacamole with avocados from my landscape. Mary Zogg made an amazing variety of food, Dallas Ackley brought dessert, and others brought wine and non-alcohol options. It was great to see everyone come together for fellowship. Below are photos of the guacamole, food, and some of the guests in attendance.

Evenings like this are important reminders for us to slow down and enjoy a conversation or a nice meal with friends. It is good to be on the other side of a stay at home order and meet with others in small groups. For someone like me who is energized by being around people, I am glad that we are now able to get together.

I understand that everyone has personal comfort levels when it comes to the pandemic. Although we started our get together inside with 10 guests, we ultimately moved the festivities outside once things cooled down.

And for anyone who is not yet ready to meet in person, I encourage you to continue to communicate with others. As people, we are meant and made for relationships. Working remotely and holding meetings via Zoom can be isolating at times. If you are someone who is beginning to experience Zoom fatigue, consider other avenues of communication. Send a text message, call or FaceTime an old friend to check in. Record a voice memo and send it to someone who you would see on a regular basis prior to quarantine.

If you feel comfortable, meet one on one and outdoors for even added precautions. We can use this unique time in history to get creative and maintain healthy relationships with one another.

Have you been able to connect with family and friends in person recently? How was your experience doing so? If you would like to share, I would love to hear from you.

Signing off,
Tom Marks (The Healthy Lawyer)

Patience is a Virtue
August 18, 2020

In my last blog, I mentioned how my Team and I are able to come together and work from the office a couple of days each week. Recently most of us had the opportunity to have lunch as a group in our large conference room, which has plenty of space for us to gather safely. Being the Healthy Lawyer, I wanted to share Lula and Brogdon Avocados as well as a couple of Mangoes from my landscape with the Team. It is always exciting for me to give fresh produce away from my landscape. I am looking forward to hearing feedback from everyone, especially regarding the avocados. Many avocado varieties in my landscape are not available in traditional grocery stores, so I am eager to share those. Below is a photo of some of us showcasing my latest harvest.

Enjoying lunch with everyone and catching up made me realize just how much I miss meeting in groups on a regular basis. With social distancing guidelines, many groups have been gathering virtually and some have even postponed meetings until further notice. My outgoing and extroverted personality means I am definitely someone who prefers in person meetings. So, I suggested to the Team that we should try to meet for lunch at least once a month, if possible. This way we can still look forward to seeing each other and spending time with one another. Of course, this is something that is optional and not required. Everyone has different comfort levels regarding social settings, and it is important to practice empathy and be respectful.

As someone who leads our Family Law firm, it is also important for me to value the culture we have built as a Team and continue to engage with everyone. However, most days we communicate while working remotely. Technology has allowed us to serve our Clients and each other from a safe distance. But, for businesses that are centered on interaction with our Clients, there are also disadvantages to operating remotely. Many people are beginning to experience Zoom fatigue, so it is necessary to find a balance.

I am a firm believer in face to face communication as it holds value and provides us with the opportunity to come together with less distractions. However, you know what they say? Patience is a virtue.

Let’s all be patient and give each other grace as we continue to navigate the different aspects of our lives during this pandemic.

Blessings to all.

Tom

Fresh is Best
August 5, 2020

Months have gone by since the pandemic started and right now, many of us may be struggling with the lack of control and overall uncertainty in our lives. Now more than ever, I am finding comfort in God’s promises, eating healthy, getting good exercise and the continuous growth in my landscape. There is something so rewarding about watching efforts in the yard come to fruition.

Since my Team and I have the opportunity to work from the office a couple of days each week, while maintaining social distancing and safety measures, I am thrilled to be able to offer fruit from my landscape with everyone on the Team as they come in. Typically, the mangoes go quickly. They are a perfect addition to a summer salad or tropical cheese board. Some may even enjoy fresh mango salsa with homemade tacos. Pictured below is a recent snapshot of some fruit I brought in to share. Believe it or not, this photo was taken yesterday, and all of the fruit has already been claimed! I guess it’s true what they say, “fresh is best!”

For those of you who have been following my blog, you may remember my Mango tree. As I’ve said before, it is probably the most mature fruit tree in my landscape. Imagine that, I’ve had this tree for longer than my avocado trees!

However, you may not have realized that I am also the proud owner of several banana trees! Although all of mine are outdoors, did you know banana trees can be maintained indoors? If you are on the hunt for a new houseplant, consider a banana tree. Just make sure you choose an area of your home with access to sunlight. And of course, don’t forget to water your tree. Like mangoes, you can expect bananas to harvest during the summer months. Once ripe, they make great smoothies, ice cream alternatives, and even banana bread for those of us who are still in a baking mood after quarantine.

Does anyone have a fun recipe involving mangoes or bananas? I would love to hear from you all, if you are interested in sharing. Go ahead and send your recipes over by replying to this email.

Let’s encourage one another to try new healthy and fruit-oriented dishes!

Thanks for reading,

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Meet Tom and Mark!
July 14, 2020

To continue with my avocado tree adoption series, I am thrilled to feature tree growth and updates of another colleague and dear friend, Kristi Nowrouzi. She and her husband Andrew adopted two trees from me just over one year ago.

Kristi and I first met at a Christian Chamber Business Building Luncheon. A few years ago, we reconnected and like Matt Bartolomei whom I featured in my last blog, Kristi also serves on the NADP Leadership Team. Known in the Central Florida community as a mortgage superhero, Kristi serves Clients with dedication and genuine care.

In the spirit of celebrating another adoption anniversary, below is a photo of Kristi and me on the day she picked up her avocado trees.

Recently, she sent over a couple of photos of her trees. Imagine my surprise when Kristi mentioned that she named her two trees, Tom and Mark, respectively. With Kristi’s permission, I present to you Tom and Mark.

As you can see, there is new growth on her trees, especially on Tom. I’m sure Kristi’s patience with Mark will prevail and soon she will be enjoying avocados from her very own backyard!

Thanks again to Kristi for giving me the opportunity to continue my avocado tree adoption anniversary series with her personal photos.

More updates to come!

Signing off for now,
Tom Marks (The Healthy Lawyer)

Avocado Tree Adoption Anniversary! 
June 30, 2020

For those of you who have been following my blog for the past year or longer, you may remember the avocado tree adoption I put together last summer. It may seem hard to believe, but we are approaching the one-year anniversary of our tree adoption project! Recently, I have reached out to my friends and colleagues who adopted trees in 2019. My hope is that they will be willing to share photos showing the progress, growth and overall health of their tree(s), respectively. As I hear back from everyone, I will share photos and recollections.

Matt Bartolomei is a financial advisor and fellow member of the NADP Downtown Orlando Lunch Chapter Leadership Team. A year ago, around this time, I remember bringing his trees to a NADP meeting. See below.

Since then, Matt has informed me that he gifted one of his trees and kept the other (Brogdon avocado variety) for his personal landscape. Here is his avocado tree shortly after being planted last year. Note the special appearance by his dog, Iggy!

In honor of the first anniversary of his avocado tree adoption, Matt sent me the following photo via email. Don’t worry, he also gave me permission to share his progress photos. Look at how well his Brogdon avocado tree is doing with all the new growth! He is probably only a year or two away from his first fruits. These are great tasting high oil content avocados that some say are better than the Hass avocados. We will have to wait to see what Matt thinks.

Once I hear back from others, be on the lookout for further growth and progress photos in future blogs.

Thanks again to Matt Bartolomei for allowing me to share his avocado tree photos.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Avocado Trivia with Tom Marks and Vyky Rifai
June 17, 2020

Recently I was invited to discuss my passion for avocados during a Facebook Live session with a new friend, Vyky Rifai.

She is the Marketing Director for Attorney, Rania Arwani and was doing a segment for Rania’s Words From Behind the Desk series on Facebook Live.

You may be wondering the backstory here as it is no secret that I am not the most technology savvy person. The original topic at hand was Collaborative Divorce. Vyky interviewed A.Jay Fowinkle and me virtually and asked us to discuss our experience and knowledge of the Collaborative Law process. Imagine my surprise when Vyky decided to ask me about avocados while we were wrapping up our Question & Answer style format.

Although I would’ve been happy to talk more about the law and Collaborative Divorce, most of you know that I have no shortage of things to say about avocados. So, I was happy to share some fun facts with Vyky and those who were watching the Facebook Live. She was gracious enough to share the footage with us and I thought it would be fun to feature some avocado trivia in my blog.

I have included the video below.

Avocado Trivia with Tom Marks and Vyky Rifai

https://youtu.be/sJAh5zi5T3k

Once you watch, let me know if you have any other fun questions for me. You may send them as a reply to this email and I will get back to you personally.

Thanks again to Vyky Rifai, Rania Arwani and the Arwani Law Firm for allowing A.Jay and I to join in on an important conversation.

Blessings to all.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Mind, Body and Spirit Health
June 5, 2020

In my recent blogs, I have been focusing on the hope and new beginnings that Spring brings. With that said, I have recently been reminded of the importance of mind, body and spirit health.

I think it is important to focus on the positive and so many health benefits can come from that. I believe we are on the backside of this pandemic and we as a nation and as a community will be stronger for it.

I was watching a sunset the other day and saw how the light was breaking through the clouds even at the end of the day and it made me think of how there is always that opportunity for light to shine through and for hope to be realized.

I do derive a lot of my positive perspective from seeing things grow in the landscape and every Spring as well as Fall, I see new fruit ripen on the trees, vines and bushes. I know I put a lot of photos in my blog and so why stop now!

I just planted a passion fruit vine a few months ago and it is probably 10 times bigger now than it was when I planted it. It is growing all over the fencing in front of it and up the oak tree behind it. The vine is full of passion fruit that should be ripe in the next few weeks. I can’t tell you how exciting that is for me to look forward to eating and sharing passion fruit from my landscape. That will be a first for me.

So, I think a positive perspective is critical. I also think taking care of your physical health is so important, especially nowadays when having a healthy immune system is imperative. And I think it is just as important to have a longer-term if not eternal perspective that gives you a faith, a future and a hope that is enduring.

I pray everyone stays healthy and safe. Please let me know if you have any questions or input for me. And if there’s something in particular you’d like for me to blog about in the future, please just let me know. Because this is an email blog, you can just hit reply and I will receive your email.

Blessings from the Healthy Lawyer,

Tom Marks

Spring Harvest
May 21, 2020

To continue with my theme of Spring in the landscape and the hope it brings, I wanted to focus on some of my non-avocado fruit trees. Anytime you can walk out into your yard and see fruit growing on the trees, it just gives you hope and a sense of accomplishment.

It also gives you a perspective that patience is so important and that it is worth the time and effort of planting, fertilizing and tending to something that ultimately bears fruit and is worth the wait.

We have all been cooped up for some time now and because of social distancing, we have been unable to get together with friends, extended family, coworkers and colleagues. The hope is that we are starting to come out of these stay at home type orders and will be able to enjoy a meal out at a restaurant together or to get together for smaller social gatherings in the near future.

For now, patience is a virtue and will ultimately bear fruit.

I’ll start with a newer addition to my landscape, a miracle fruit tree. The miracle of this fruit is that after chewing a single small fruit anything sour that you eat after that will taste sweet. So, you can eat a lemon straight off the tree and it will taste sweet. Miracle fruit is often used to treat diabetes and correct chemotherapy-related taste disturbances. If you are in need of a low calorie sweetener while baking during quarantine or otherwise, you may use miracle fruit. (See photo below)

Also, below is a photo of my peach tree with two small peaches on it. I didn’t even know until a year or so ago that you could grow peaches south of Georgia. These first two peaches, although small are really two of the tastiest peaches I’ve eaten. (See photo)

Spring is also bringing a bumper crop of lychee fruit. I love to share these with people as they are a unique fruit that most people are either not aware of or just can’t get in the grocery store. They are not quite ripe but hopefully will be ready when we are all getting back together socially. (See photo below)

Finally, I have included a photo of some mangoes from what is probably my most mature fruit tree in the landscape. I planted my mango tree probably 15 years ago now and it is huge. It typically has at least a couple hundred mangoes on it and we are lucky to get half if the squirrels are willing to share them with us. The mangoes won’t be ready until July or August but hopefully, I will be seeing people and be able to share with them then. (See photo below)

I hope this email/blog is of some encouragement and offers some perspective as we all look forward to getting back together in person. Make the best of this time and either start a garden, plant a tree, develop a new hobby or read a couple of good books you’ve always wanted to read.

I’m looking forward to getting back to social gatherings and seeing everyone in person that I haven’t seen now for a couple of months.

Stay safe and healthy,

Tom

Hope Comes with the Spring
April 28, 2020

You have to know a couple of things about me. First, yes I love my avocado trees. And second, I am an eternal optimist. So I’m going to focus this blog on the hope I see of coming out of this pandemic/social distancing and the hope I find in the first signs of fruit on my avocado trees in the Spring.

These two topics may seem somewhat unrelated, but they are connected by “unrelenting hope.” I so look forward to seeing my team at the office, friends, professional connections, my Family Law Clients, colleagues, judges, etc. Below is a picture featuring my NADP book club members. Yes, I brought one of my home grown avocados to share!

I also look forward to all of my 21 avocado trees producing one year. But I will have to settle for 7 of the 21 producing this year. A couple of my avocado trees only have one small avocado on each. But I’ll take it.

The first with only one avocado, is my Brooks Late avocado tree. It is a hard-to-find variety that I chose because it produces supposedly in March and April, months that avocado trees rarely produce in Florida.

The next is a Wurtz which is the only true dwarf avocado tree that I am aware of. It is also a hard variety to find.

My Bacon avocado tree is a Mexican/Guatemalan hybrid. Don’t get too excited it doesn’t taste like bacon, that’s just the man’s name who cultivated it.

One of my trees that gives me particular hope is my Simmonds avocado tree. Last year it only had one fruit, which by the way I have to say was one of the best avocados I’ve ever eaten. This year it looks like it may have closer to 20 avocados.

Finally, in the group of newer avocado trees, my Choquette will have a nice small crop of avocados this year.

These first five trees were all planted less than two years ago! So, for those of you wishing to have your own backyard avocados, you can look forward to having some production within a couple of years. Check out my prior blogs regarding how to plant your new avocado trees.

The final two trees showcased in this blog are my more established avocado trees, both 13 years old. The first, my Hass avocado, which by the way commands 80% of the world market, is thought of by many to be one of if not the best eating avocado around. This tree is about 20 feet tall and will have a very good crop this year starting in the Fall.

Finally, is my Lula avocado tree, which is a Guatemalan variety, along with my Hass avocado tree was not as well taken care of in its early years, as I have learned to do in the last couple of years. There is always hope. This tree has really made a comeback and will have an excellent crop this year.

These seven trees and the photos above, to me offer the hope and promise of Spring: new life and growth! I know there is something for each of us to learn from this pandemic and social distancing. I hope it helps us each to be even more grateful for the relationships we have and those new relationships which we can nurture and develop in the coming months and years.

Blessings,

Your Healthy Lawyer

Tom Marks

Remote Reflections from the Healthy Lawyer
April 8, 2020

It’s a crazy new world we live in with everyone working remotely, social distancing and sheltering in place! Thankfully, I have my dog Maverick to keep me company during the day.

You would think that the healthy lawyer with his now 67 fruit bearing trees in his yard would have more than enough to distract and keep him busy during this Coronavirus pandemic.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my fruit trees and my landscape. I even picked up a new nectarine tree (pictured below) on my last trip to Home Depot. I know you all must be shocked that I would go to Home Depot for some hardware items and somehow end up with a fruit tree in the back of my truck.

But even I miss all of my coworkers, Clients, friends and colleagues. I’ve learned of this new remote meeting platform called Zoom, which I’ve used for meetings with our Team at work and as Director of my National Association of Divorce Professionals Chapter, as well as other leadership meetings.

The next big step is now going to be attending Hearings in contested Family Law litigation matters with the Judge via Zoom. It’s a brave new world.

But I have to say that it is so important to stay in touch with your friends, extended family and others during this shelter in place time. I have made a commitment to try to call five people a day simply to touch base, see how they are doing and to offer a word of encouragement if I can.

I know many of my Family Law Clients are struggling with all kinds of timesharing issues and other conflicts being confined to close quarters under such difficult circumstances.

So, some healthy ideas during this time are as follows:
1. Get outside, enjoy a walk or a bike ride and get some sun and some fresh air.
2. Reach out to others whether they be family, friends or a trusted therapist to seek some support.
3. Also reach out to others to see how you can encourage them and to be a source of strength and support. That is a way to help you feel better and to get your mind off your own circumstances.
4. Of course eat healthy (that could include some avocados!) and make sure you get plenty of sleep.

Please feel free to share this blog with anyone else who may find it helpful. To read other blogs, visit our website – https://www.markslawfla.com/the-healthy-lawyer-blog/

Stay safe and healthy!

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

The Healthy Lawyer’s Guide to Spring Cleaning
March 26, 2020

With so much uncertainty going on in the world right now, many large companies and amusement parks are exploring remote options or in some cases, closing temporarily. This may seem odd to be sending a blog regarding Spring Cleaning, but for those of us who will be spending more time at home and practicing social distancing, now is the perfect time to be productive with our own personal spaces. In addition to maintaining a clean environment inside your home, I also encourage you to use this time to tend to your landscapes. I have also seen one study that indicates that sun and outdoor fresh air are actually effective and helpful against viruses and could help with COVID-19. As you know, I am very passionate about working in my yard and so I thought it timely to provide some ideas for those spending more time at home.

Below are several tips that may help you feel less overwhelmed about spring cleaning.

1. Tackle one task at a time – Perhaps there are numerous items on your list that you would like complete during this season. However, it is important to prioritize everything and complete one thing at a time. Doing so, will allow you to give your full attention to the specific task at hand. Trying to take on too many projects at once may actually lead to feeling distracted and cause you to lose focus.
2. Capture before and after photos to keep track of your progress – Sometimes when we are in a rush to clean or remodel a space, we forget to take before and after photos. Skipping this step may make it hard to recognize subtle changes and/or improvements that were made. If you are beginning a large, more time-consuming project, be sure to take photos at the end of each day in order to have clear evidence of your development. Before and after photos are the best way to show the level of transformation that has occurred. For your viewing pleasure, I have included some before and after photos of my spring cleaning.

3. Get your family involved – Since we are currently being advised to avoid public spaces and hunker down with our loved ones as much as possible, now is a great time to encourage teamwork. After all, with more hands on deck, we are able to get things done much more quickly and efficiently. Plus, anything we can do as a family creates memories that last a lifetime. For those of you who may find it difficult to motivate family participation to these outdoor activities, you can still find it therapeutic to spend time outside and to see the fruits of your labors.
4. Set timely and realistic goals – I’m sure many of us have started a cleaning/home improvement task that has been pushed aside in favor of other priorities. Our daily lives can sometimes become so busy that we forget about these tasks. By setting timely and realistic goals, we can accomplish our to do lists with ease. And of course, maybe the window of opportunity to start and finish some of the those projects you have wanted to get to.

Do you have any spring cleaning tips that you would like to share? If so, please send them my way in an email.

Overall, it is important to practice good hygiene methods and use common sense during this time. Stay hydrated, eat well and get plenty of sleep. Listen to your body. Don’t forget to be mindful of others and considerate of those who are the most vulnerable.

Thanks for reading!

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

The Healthy Lawyer Blog – Collaborative Law
March 2, 2020

Today is the 28th Anniversary of The Marks Law Firm, P.A. I will give a little history of the firm in a blog later this week.

In this blog, I wanted to talk a little bit about a healthier approach to Family Law. Some of you may have heard of Collaborative Law, which is a way to avoid hostility and litigation in the Family Law arena.

With Collaborative Law, the husband and wife agree to engage in a transparent process where their attorneys rather than being adversaries, approach the case in a Collaborative way to help the parties amicably resolve all issues, including parenting and financial issues without having to go to Court.

Two other Professionals, a Financial Neutral and a Mental Health Neutral help guide the parties without taking sides in a very holistic and trust filled manner to help put together all the financial and parenting documents, like financial affidavits, equitable distribution worksheets and child support guidelines, as well as the parenting plan to address the time sharing with the children and all related issues.

I know this sounds a little complicated, but basically the husband and wife along with their collaborative attorneys and the neutral professionals all meet together to determine the common goals of the parties and to assemble the agreements that help ensure fairness and cooperation in an effort to avoid damage to the children and future family relationships.

The big benefits of Collaborative Law are avoiding litigation and trial and helping the Parties reach their goals of co-parenting the children into the future in a healthy and mutually agreed-upon way and avoiding damage, emotionally, financially, spiritually and in so many other ways.

Collaborative Law is simply a healthier way of practicing Family Law.

All three of our Family Law Attorneys at The Marks Law Firm, P.A. are collaboratively trained and members of The Collaborative Family Law Group of Central Florida.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Healthy Salads 
February 19, 2020

In this blog, I am going to include not only all of the ingredients I put in my healthy lawyer salads each week, but also some fun pictures of the salads themselves, my Hydroponic Tower Gardens and some friends I have enjoyed making salads for.

First, I’ll start by mentioning avocados. That’s a given. Actually, I put them on top of the salad. I start by putting in a variety of lettuces, like arugula, spring mix, kale or baby spinach, or I’ll add some Swiss Chard, butter lettuce, Bok Choi, Romaine, Bib or other lettuces. The last few lettuces are from our Hydroponic Tower Gardens.

You don’t have to get that involved, just put in your favorite type of greens. Next, I love nuts and seeds, so I’ll add in pecans, shaved almonds, walnuts and pistachios. All of these are healthy fats and really add substance and help keep you feeling full after eating the salad. By the way, peanuts and cashews are not really nuts. They are legumes and I try to limit them.

Next, I add fun and healthy stuff like Chia seeds, Goji berries, Pumpkin and Hemp seeds. These are all considered super foods. Oh yes, don’t forget the olives.

So far all of this is completely vegan. But I love cheese and healthy fish, eggs and meat. Often, I will add blue cheese, pastured eggs and sometimes a little grass-fed beef.

I typically add a healthy fish like wild caught cod, salmon, sardines or even anchovies. While those last two are not as popular with most people, I love them. They are very healthy fats with omega-3’s and other healthy vitamins and minerals.

Oh, I almost forgot. The salad dressing you add can make or break your salad. Most store-bought salad dressings are filled with sugars, high fructose corn syrup and other unhealthy ingredients. I like to add a high-quality extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. As you can see, I’m a Costco guy!

The most fun part though has been my transition from eating out so much to making these healthy salads for family, friends, colleagues and our team members here at The Marks Law Firm, P.A.

Pictured below are Attorney Carina Leeson, Director of First Impressions MaKenna Wyatt, Attorney Nick Shannin, and Attorney Steve Brady.

One of my colleagues said she loved the salad I made her so much that she has continued on with making these kinds of salads every week as part of her health journey.

Since I started with avocado, I will end with this: I’ve read that adding an avocado, rich in monounsaturated fats, makes the greens and other ingredients in your salad five times more bioavailable to your body.

Like I’ve said before, “An avocado a day keeps the doctor away.”

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

The Healthy Lawyer Visits Chicago!
January 21, 2020

Some of you are aware that my wife, Linda and I flew to Chicago recently. You may be wondering why two Floridians would choose to visit the Windy City during the winter? Well, as much as I enjoy spending time outdoors, there are very few reasons I would subject myself to freezing temperatures. As it turns out, Linda and I flew to Chicago to be there for our daughter Rebekah’s engagement.

Rebekah and her now fiancé Luke have been dating for almost two years. Kudos to Luke for starting 2020 with a surprise!

Chicago is very special to Rebekah and Luke. They first explored the city last summer and especially enjoyed sightseeing. One of their favorite experiences was taking in the Bean. For those of you who haven’t visited the Windy City, the Bean, technically named Cloud Gate, is a large metallic bean shaped sculpture. It is located in downtown Chicago and people flock to it for photos. Did I mention that the Bean is not housed indoors? Linda and I were joking that it might be frozen when we got there.

When Luke asked for Linda and my permission to marry Rebekah, he knew right away that he would like to propose at the Bean. We were thrilled when he asked us to come along not only to witness the proposal, but also to help surprise Rebekah. Linda convinced Rebekah that she wanted to take a “girls’ trip” to Chicago, but what Rebekah didn’t know was that Luke and I would be crashing this trip and she would soon have an engagement ring on her finger.

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, I believe relationships are so important. And when it comes to health, I truly believe that fostering relationships positively impacts each of our lives. For the past 27 years, Linda and I have been there to see Rebekah grow into the young woman she is today. Our family is incredibly close. Linda and I are thankful to share these types of milestones with Rebekah and our son Daniel.

In the weeks leading up to this trip, I was not looking forward to dealing with Chicago weather. But the weather cooperated and we had a wonderful time celebrating Rebekah and Luke. In addition to seeing the Bean, we rode bikes all around the city, visited the Shedd Aquarium, and rode to the Lincoln Park Zoo along Lake Michigan. I definitely recommend visiting all these sites. We rented bikes for 24 hours one time and road along Lake Michigan from Grant Park to the Aquarium area, to the zoo and back to Navy Pier. The four of us also attended a live showing of “Mean Girls.” Fitting, for a disguised “girls’ trip,” am I right? We road bikes to the performance. Linda and I walked around Navy Pier and then walked back to Grant Park and our hotel. Between Friday and Monday, we walked between 15,000 and 20,000 steps daily. The exercise helped me keep my weight gain down and I have now lost all the weight I gained over the holidays. I guess I brought that rocket ship in for a landing.

My Fitbit was really put to work during this trip. Although it was technically a vacation since I was away from work for a few days, it wasn’t a time to just lounge around. And yes, I did enjoy a Chicago deep dish pizza and other great food. Again, it really helped to walk and bike around a lot, so I was still able burn some calories and get my steps in! Balance is important.

All in all, the engagement went flawlessly, and our family is so excited for Rebekah and Luke to begin this next chapter of their lives together.

Below are several photos from our trip.

Thanks for reading!

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

The Healthy Lawyer: My Weight Loss Journey
January 2, 2020

I’m not sure why I am dictating this Healthy Lawyer blog in the middle of the holiday season, between Christmas and New Years, a time I affectionately call “the eating season.” If you looked at my Fitbit where it graphs my weight, it looks a little bit like the trajectory of a rocket ship. Hopefully, it will only enter low orbit and return safely to earth early in the New Year.

However, the New Year is just around the corner and if I can keep it together during the “eating season” then I’ll get back on track. I guess the point is that if you deprive yourself even during the holidays, you’ll ultimately fall off the wagon and completely go back to old habits.

So, I do allow myself some grace during the holidays and special occasions. But I keep things within reason, and I don’t let it get too out of hand.

With some fear and trepidation, I am going to put a before and after picture here below for everyone to see what I looked like in 2012 and now in 2019. I took the slow and steady route toward the ultimate 50 pound plus weight loss.

So here are some pointers on how I did it without overwhelming you with the details. I basically cut out most sugars, breads and processed foods. That means greatly limiting sodas, cookies, crackers, breads, pastas and the like. This doesn’t mean I never have any of those, but they are not at all in my regular diet.

I drink my coffee black now and I don’t drink any soft drinks sweetened or otherwise. My diet is mostly what you would call Paleo, Keto and Mediterranean style eating. So, I’m not limited to any one of those diets and there is a lot of variety there. Honestly, it really doesn’t require denying myself a lot. If you can cut out sugars and breads you’re mostly there. If you don’t think bread is bad for you, read the book “Wheat Belly.”

I make sure to add a lot of fruits, vegetables, lean meats and healthy fats into my diet. And of course, let’s not forget the avocados!

One last thing, I have started intermittent fasting over the last six months or so and found it to be pretty easy and very healthy. It helped me lose the last 15 pounds or so. I know I hear from 90% of people that they could never do intermittent fasting. But that’s what all of us do overnight while were sleeping. I just extend the fast until lunch and avoid breakfast most days.

That old familiar saying “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” was made up by the Quaker Oats company in order to sell more cereal. It’s completely untrue and by the way cereal is one of the worst things you can eat. See the “Wheat Belly” book above.

There are some great YouTube videos on intermittent fasting and there’s a lot of variety that help people do it successfully. One guy I watch a lot on YouTube is Thomas DeLauer. He’s incredibly knowledgeable and lives what he preaches.

I’m going to hold this blog until January so none of us have to feel guilty about eating over the holidays. I hope you all get a good solid start to some healthy living/eating in January. Make it a lifestyle rather than a diet and it is something you can do for the long-haul.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Avocado Production Update
December 17, 2019

Now that I have 20 avocado trees in my landscape (16 different varieties) I am getting a lot of inquiries regarding when I’m going to start having a bumper crop of avocados for my closest friends, family and others.

So I have gone back into my records as to when I planted all of my avocado trees and found the following:

2 mature avocado trees 5+ years old
5 avocado trees planted in 2017
6 avocado trees planted in 2018
7 avocado trees planted in 2019.

From everything I’ve read, if you plant a healthy grafted avocado tree, it takes anywhere from two to four years before you start getting any fruit from it. So the 13 avocado trees I planted in 2018 and 2019 are not yet old enough to start producing. Sorry, as I am as impatient as anyone.

Of the five avocado trees I planted in the summer of 2017, three have actually started to produce. My Choquette avocado tree only has six avocados on it, my Oro Negro avocado tree only has seven avocados on it and my Simmonds avocado tree only had one avocado on it. These three are pictured below.

But wait till next year!

Choquette

Oro Negro

Simmonds

I am still pretty happy with those results to have the majority of my two-year-old avocado trees producing even if only modestly.

Of my two mature avocado trees, my Lula already produced over the summer and my Hass avocado tree is producing now. I would say that although I call them mature, they are probably only five or six years old and still have a great deal of growth and production to come. Photos of each are featured below.

Lula

Hass

So yes, even I am still buying avocados at Lucky’s or Earth Fare, at least for the next year or so. I’ll let everyone know when the bumper crops start coming in. I can’t wait to start trying the different varieties.

Let me know if any of you have questions or if you want some pointers on planting an avocado tree or two of your own.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Pawpaw Fruit Trees & Methley Plum Trees
November 19, 2019

In my last blog, I mentioned the 61 fruit bearing trees in my landscape. Among avocados, lychees, prickly pears, previously showcased, etc. I also am the proud owner of two Pawpaw fruit trees and a Methley plum tree. These are some of my latest purchases that I planted in our landscape in the last two to three weeks. They are both fruit trees that grow in the shade, something that is very difficult to find as almost all fruit trees require full sun in order to produce fruit well. I thought it would be fun to feature both varieties in a two for one blog!

As you can see, they are pretty scrawny starting out and so they have some work to do to get bigger in order to produce. This is my first foray into ordering trees online. So honestly, I had little idea what I was really getting. That is why I prefer to go to the nursery and pick out personally the trees I am buying. However, that was the only way I could find fruit trees that produce in the shade. Anyway, I know for those of you that follow my blog, it won’t be surprising to learn that I am just about out of sunny areas left in the landscape! What will I do when I have no more room to plant new trees?!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with these types of fruits, I have included a photo below featuring two Pawpaw trees and a Methley plum tree in the middle.

Pawpaw trees produce large, yellowish-green to brown fruit, while Methley plum trees bear red purple fruit. The latter ripens from late May to early July. Which means the plums are the perfect summertime treat. How refreshing, am I right? Meanwhile Pawpaw fruit mature/become ripe in late August to mid-September. So, I guess you could say they are in season come early fall.

Did you know that Pawpaw fruits are the largest edible fruit indigenous to the United States? They originated from all over the map, from places like New York to southeastern Nebraska, and even south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. Someone even told me it is a tree mentioned in the movie The Jungle Book. Flavor wise, the Pawpaw fruit is sweet. In fact, some people consider its taste to be similar to a banana. Anyone who is a dessert lover, will appreciate the texture of a Pawpaw fruit, as it resembles custard. While most people enjoy Pawpaw fruits raw, they can also be added to desserts, such as fresh ice cream and baked goods. Can you say sweet tooth?

Of course, as The Healthy Lawyer, I must let you know about the nutritional benefits of the Pawpaw fruit as well. Not only are they a rich source of Vitamin C (20% or more of the recommended daily value), but these fruits also have magnesium (32% of the recommended daily value) and iron (54% of the recommended daily value.)

Going back to the Methley plum tree, did you know it is a cultivar of the Japanese plum tree? As I previously mentioned, the fruit ripens during the summer months. Similar to Pawpaw fruits, Methley plums are sweet. Much like other plums, they are very juicy! In my opinion, this tree is actually low maintenance. For example, it tolerates heat well, which is imperative since we live in Florida. Not to mention, Methley plum trees can produce fruit without being planted in multiples.

I’m excited to explore many other fruits and aspects of healthy living with you all. Don’t forget, a healthy life is more than just what you put into your body, it also involves your daily habits, work/life balance, meaningful relationships, etc.

If anyone is interested, I would enjoy learning about your personal definitions of healthy living. After all, each of us offer unique perspectives that should be shared.

Thanks for reading!

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Still Practicing Family Law
November 5, 2019

I wanted to make sure everyone knows that I am still working full-time as a Family Law Attorney at The Marks Law Firm. From reading my Healthy Lawyer Blog, you might get the impression that all I do is hang out working in my yard, tending my 61 fruit bearing trees in the landscape and reading up on avocado and other fruit trees.

But in fact, I still love practicing Family Law and being part of a dynamic law firm with great attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants and administrative professionals (pictured below). And I think work that you love is part of being healthy.

Our Mission Statement is “To Honor God and Faithfully Represent our Clients with Great Leadership, Attitude, Excellence and Teamwork.”  We also have Core Values we live by as a Team.

I think we accomplish those on a regular basis even though handling divorces, custody disputes, paternity cases, alimony and child support issues, to name a few, can be stressful. We have been careful as a firm to make sure that we are selective in the clients we take on and we greatly appreciate the quality referral sources and friends that send us high-quality clients.

And of course, we need those quality referrals more than ever since we don’t advertise and because we rely so much on word-of-mouth and personal relationships along with the quality of work we provide.

So, I will continue to send my Healthy Lawyer Blog. I also have some exciting news I will be expounding on in future issues along with some more pictures of my avocado and other fruit trees.

Suffice it to say that I have reached my ultimate goal of losing 50 pounds and living a healthier lifestyle. I will let you know in some of my future blogs how I accomplished that and how I have learned so much about healthy eating, exercise and other healthy pursuits in the process.

Thanks for following my blog.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Flame Thrower Palm Tree
October 2, 2019

Before I got into avocado and other fruit trees, I was into palm trees. I guess I still am as I have about 20 different palm varieties in my landscape. Basically, because I love nature, being outdoors and trees in general, I enjoy working in my yard. Luckily for me, our Florida weather makes it enjoyable to do especially in the Fall when things start cooling off.

While it is true that I have been focusing on my fruit trees as certain varieties come into season, I also appreciate other parts of my landscape. Pictured below is my Flame Thrower Palm Tree. As you can see from the photo, portions of this tree are a deep orange-red as its name implies. The change in color typically lasts up to about 10 days. It serves as a bright spot in the otherwise green surrounding leaves and the other palms in my landscape, which you can see in the background.

Commonly known as a Flame Thrower Palm Tree, the scientific name for this variation is Chambeyronia macrocarpa. Originally from New Caledonia, an island east of Australia and north of New Zealand, the Flame Thrower is cold hardy and can handle temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit. So you can imagine, it does naturally well in our colder months here in Florida.

I have also included a close-up image here to show the deep orange-red color.

Given its low maintenance nature, the Flame Thrower Palm is easy to grow and manage. For anyone who is interested in adding this palm their landscape, I encourage you to look into nursery availability.

Is there another palm or fruit tree you would like me to feature as part of my blog? Of course, I am open to suggestions and feedback from all of you.

Thank you for allowing me to share what I am also passionate about outside of Family Law. Remember, if someone you know would be interested in receiving these updates via email, encourage them to subscribe to our Mailing List on our website.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

National Guacamole Day!
September 16, 2019

I know I don’t need an excuse to talk about avocados, but today is National Guacamole Day! I’ll be happy to share my favorite recipe for guacamole for those interested.

Depending on how much guacamole you want to make, start with three or four Hass avocados. Add 1/3-1/2 diced red onion, cilantro per your taste, 1/2 or more diced large tomato, 1/2 of a lime, minced or fresh garlic, salt and pepper and if you like it a bit spicy you can add some hot sauce.

Of course, chips are great for dipping, but I prefer to have my guacamole with tacos, add your favorite meat or not, lettuce, more diced tomatoes, more diced onions if you’re like me and love onions, and of course sour cream and yes don’t forget the hot sauce.

You notice above that I mention using Hass avocados. That’s because I know most people prefer Hass over the large green “Florida” avocado. However, I just tasted my first Simmonds avocado from my one-year-old tree in the landscape, which is a “Florida type “, technically “West Indian” avocado. I could not believe that it was every bit as good if not maybe better than the store bought Hass avocado. Unfortunately, my tree only had one avocado this first season. Most avocado trees take 2-4 years to start producing. So this was pretty good to get 1 avocado after just 1 year!

It got me thinking though. So, I know this won’t shock anyone who reads my blog, but I actually had a daydream about having an avocado tasting party in a couple years when all of my avocado varieties should be producing! I mentioned this to a good friend, and he said count him in! His only suggestion was to make sure there was some good beer to go along with it. Can anyone say Cerveza?

Have a great National Guacamole Day!

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

The Healthy Lawyer Goes on Vacation!
August 29, 2019

Although it’s been more than a couple of weeks since my last Healthy Lawyer blog, I have a good excuse. My wife and I took a two-week vacation on one of those European river cruises up the Rhine River from Basel Switzerland to Amsterdam.

Of course this was all in pursuit of having material for my Healthy Lawyer blog. Well it was because I needed a vacation and it’s important to get away and rest and get a new perspective.

I think most of you know that I have a stressful profession as a family law attorney and family law can be high conflict and wearing at times. So rather than talking about my avocado or other fruit trees, this blog is going to be more about healthy lifestyle and reminding us of the importance of taking a break and enjoying life.

I do have to say that it was exciting upon our return to find two small Jackfruits growing on my Jackfruit tree and one small Sugar Apple growing on my Sugar Apple tree. But I’ll leave those for another day.

I think most of you know that I have lost about 45 pounds over the last three or four years and have kept it off by transitioning to more of a plant-based diet. However, I still eat grass fed beef as well as chicken and other meat products. I try to eat those in more limited quantities nowadays.

I think the thing that’s helped me more is to cut out sugar and bread products, pasta, cereals and the like as much as possible. I must admit it was a tough transition to black coffee with no sweetener after years of copious quantities of Italian sweet cream in my coffee.

One of my favorite things to eat nowadays is a nice big salad with avocado, walnuts, pistachios and almonds as well as some blue cheese, olives, onion and extra virgin olive oil with balsamic vinegar. Sometimes I put a can of anchovies or sardines on top which the ladies at work really hate. Here’s a picture for you.

I would highly recommend three books for those really interested in making a change. Wheat Belly, The Plant Paradox and The Obesity Code were really helpful to me. It’s not about dieting but about changing your eating habits to a healthier way of eating. Of course, you always must make some exceptions for life and vacation cruises.

Oh, and I do intermittent fasting, which simply means I typically skip breakfast and try to eat lunch and dinner between about noon and 6 PM. It’s a real benefit there if you want to read up on that too.

The other things to make sure to incorporate into your healthy lifestyle is a good exercise program and at least seven hours of sleep each night. I have a Charge 3 Fitbit that helps me monitor my exercise, sleep and weight daily. Yes, some people might call me a bit obsessive, but it helps me keep things in check.

For those of you who like pictures, I’ve included some from our trip below.

Pictured above: My wife, Linda and I in the wine country outside of Colmar, Germany.

Pictured above: Linda and I after a bike ride along the Moselle river.

Pictured above: Linda and I along with our good friends Mike and Lisa Hodes and our favorite crew members during the final night on the ship.

To receive additional healthy lawyer content and photos, follow my new Instagram page here.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Cactus Fruit/Prickly Pear
July 29, 2019

The focus of this blog will be centered around the cactus fruit, sometimes called a prickly pear. Most people don’t realize that the cactus produces an edible fruit. I didn’t initially know this either. My cactus came from cuttings from my neighbor’s yard. They are very easy to propagate. Just stick them in the ground and water for a few days. They are very hardy and drought tolerant.  For those of you who may not be aware of what this variety looks like, allow me to show you.

Below is a photo of a cactus fruit from my personal landscape. As you can probably see, one of my mango trees is making a small cameo in the background of this image. It’s funny, on the outside, the cactus fruit looks a little bit like a small mango. However, it did not come from the mango tree in the background. I just thought it would be fun to take the picture this way.

You may be wondering where the cactus fruit gets its name. Well, as it turns out, the fruit actually grows from a cactus (pictured below). Originally from Latin America, the prickly pear is now popular in many areas of the world. If you don’t pick the fruit when it is ripe, it will eventually become a very beautiful flower. You can see a couple of the fruit below are starting different stages of flowering.

According to research completed by the Mayo Clinic, the prickly pear offers the following health benefits:

• treating diabetes
• improving high cholesterol
• fighting obesity
• alleviating hangovers

It is also high in fiber, antioxidants and carotenoids. Like other healthy foods, the cactus fruit contains antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.

How can you tell when a cactus fruit is ripe? During the early stages of growth, the outer layer of skin will appear to be green. However, as time passes, the skin will turn color and become red or yellow. Another method to determine if a prickly pear is ripe would be to check the level of firmness. You can easily do so by gently squeezing the fruit. If it feels firm but not hard, the fruit is ready to enjoy! I can easily tell when my catus fruit turns a reddish color.

Once ripened, the prickly pear can be eaten whole. In terms of the cactus, the edible parts are as follows: the leaves, flowers, stems and fruit.

Illustrated by the photo above, flesh of the cactus fruit is soft white with tiny black seeds. It is often made into juice or fresh jams. Many people enjoy the flavor after the fruit is boiled or grilled. I like to eat fresh off the tree or sometimes in a salad. It offers some unique flavor and look to whatever you add it to.

Should you have any questions regarding the cactus fruit, please do not hesitate to ask.

To receive additional healthy lawyer content and photos, follow my new Instagram page here.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

The Wax Jambu Kennard
July 17, 2019

In my previous post, we did take a step back into avocado territory. But as the summer progresses, I will showcase some more exotic  fruit varieties you typically can’t buy in the grocery store. While we wait for updates on the newly adopted avocado trees, I am excited to share one of my newest fruit trees. Only a month after being planted, fruit is already appearing on my Wax Jambu.

The Wax Jambu Kennard is a dense evergreen tree that produces bright and bell-shaped fruit. Some might compare its appearance to bell peppers. Like bell pepper assortments, different varieties of Wax Jambu Kennard range in color. During its ripening stages, this exotic fruit can be found in many shades, from pale to deep color. Examples include white, pale green, pink, red, light purple, deep purple and black.

You may be wondering what inspired me to add the Wax Jambu Kennard to my landscape. Well, throughout my health journey, I have become fascinated by many healthy foods that are not typically easily accessible.

The opportunity to grow my own fruits and vegetables at home has helped me become more intentional about making better food choices. I’m sure most of you are aware of the phrase “farm to table” which promotes the use of fresh ingredients. If you are interested in discussing this topic further, I can put together more recipes utilizing the fruits and vegetables that my wife, Linda and I grow in our yard.

Now that you are aware of my interest in exotic fruit trees, let’s take a closer look at the Wax Jambu Kennard. Below are photos of my tree and the fruit that has quickly developed. Keep in mind, as I mentioned before, it has only been planted for about a month.

The outer texture/skin of the Wax Jambu Kennard is quite fragile. In other words, it is easily damaged and therefore commercial transport and availability is unlikely. In its early stages of development, Wax Jambu Kennard even has the potential to sunburn.  Heavy sun exposure for blossoming Wax Jambu Kennard results in this dense fruit becoming soft.

You can see  from the photos above that the Wax Jambu Kennard is still maturing. On average, once harvested, I anticipate its size to be about 5–8 cm long.

The flesh of Wax Jambu Kennard is a pearly white. Texture wise, the flesh is solid on the outside and soft on the inside. Rather than the inner core housing the majority of flavor, most of it comes from the outer layer.

For anyone who would like to add a Wax Jambu Kennard tree to their landscape, I advise locating of the warmest parts of your yard.  Also, you may want to avoid planting in low lying or deeply shaded areas of your yard that will be colder in the winter.

I hope you are continuing to enjoy these blog posts as time goes on. Please don’t hesitate to share anything I’ve brought up that resonates with you and invite others to subscribe to our Mailing List on our website.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Avocado Tree Adoption
July 1, 2019

Although I mentioned in a previous blog that my focus would be shifting away from avocados until harvest season, some of you expressed interest in adopting your own avocado trees. Imagine how thrilled I was to learn that others also wanted to add an avocado tree (or two) to their landscape. So I reached out to a couple of nurseries that had Hass and Brogdon avocado trees respectively.

Green Jungle Nursery located in Orlando had 3-gallon Hass avocado trees about 2 1/2 feet tall.  Hass avocado trees are an A variety pollinator.

Nick’s Edibles located in Saint Cloud had 3-gallon Brogdon avocado trees about the same size as Green Jungle nursery. They are a B variety pollinator.

Initially, I had only received requests for Hass avocado trees. However, I encouraged those who wanted greater production from their trees to plant both Hass and Brogdon avocado trees. Doing so would be a perfect combination because when planted together, they complement each other and result in heavier production of avocados. I ended up purchasing 20 avocado trees total to adopt out.

Below are photos of some of the adopted trees and their new owners. Once the trees get planted, I look forward to following up on how the they are doing.

If you are interested in planting your own avocado tree, I have come up with the following instructions:

1.            Plant slightly above grade (an inch or two) especially if you have a wet area where water stands. Avocado trees cannot tolerate the roots staying wet all the time. No need to supplement the site with compost or other dirt you buy. Native dirt at the site is best.
2.            Make a dirt berm around the tree about a foot or so out from the tree so you can fill it with water at least once a day for the first 2-3 weeks especially until the daily rains start. Then 2-3 times per week for another month or two and then 1 time per week for the rest of the year, more if there is no rain. Reduce watering in the winter. No fertilizer for the first 30 to 60 days. Avocado fertilizer from Home Depot after that is fine, once a quarter but not in the Winter.
3.            Put a layer of natural mulch (not synthetic or dyed) over the ground around tree but not touching the trunk to avoid rot on the trunk. This keeps moisture in the ground and weeds down.
4.            Plant in a sunny area (at least Sun exposure 60 % of the day). Plant cold tolerant “Mexican” or “Mexican/Guatemalan”  type avocado trees if you experience freezing  winter temperatures in your area. Larger Florida type avocado trees are less cold tolerant.

Should you have any questions regarding the planting process or avocado tree varieties, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Remember, if someone you know may be interested in learning more about fruit trees or other health related topics, I invite you to share these emails with them or ask them to reach out to me and we will add them to our mailing list.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Lychee Tree Nuts
June 3, 2019

Now that I have featured several posts on avocados, I thought you all might be interested in learning about another fruit. While I am very passionate about avocados and their health-related benefits, my yard is full of other fruit, citrus and some other more exotic trees.

Lychee tree nuts are packed with vitamin c, antioxidants, and other health benefits. If you want to know more, this blog will spotlight the Lychee tree.

According to Lychees Online, the fruit has more vitamin c than the same amount of oranges or lemons, a significant amount of potassium and as much fiber as an apple. Lychee also contains quercetin, a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties, and cancer-fighting heart-healthy kaempferol.

Where did the Lychee tree nut originate? China is actually the main producer of Lychees, followed by India, other countries in Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and South Africa.

Pictured below is my own personal Lychee tree. I planted this one in my yard about ten years ago.

A tall evergreen tree, the Lychee bears small fleshy fruits. The outside of the fruit is pink-red, roughly textured and inedible.  You may be wondering about the flavor. Lychee flesh is sweet and can be found in many different dessert dishes. Those of you with a sweet tooth would probably especially enjoy Lychee.

Let’s talk about appearance. These particular fruits vary in shape from round to oval to heart-shaped. They range from about five centimeters long and four centimeters wide in size. Similar to some avocado varieties, Lychee skin is thin, tough and green when immature. Then once ripened, the skin turns red or pink-red. At harvest, Lychee skin texture is smooth or covered with small sharp bumps.

I’ve included a closer look at my Lychee tree that is in season, here. It is pretty full. You can see the abundance of produce and just how bright the fruits are. Some might say their appearance resembles a raspberry.

In case you were wondering, raw Lychee fruit is 82% water, 17% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and contains negligible fat.

As I previously mentioned, the raw pulp is rich in vitamin c, having 72 mg per 100 grams – an amount representing 86% of the daily value!

Perhaps you are interested in planting your own Lychee tree. I would recommend the following steps to help ensure successful growth:

• Water twice a week
•  Fertilize quarterly except for the winter
• Add mulch around the tree out to the drip line and not up against the trunk (Holds in moisture & nutrients and keeps out the weeds)

Should you have any questions or comments about Lychees, please send them my way. Remember, if someone you know may be interested in learning more about fruits, like the Lychee, or other health related topics, I invite you to share these emails with them or ask them to reach out to me and we will add them to our mailing list.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Another Avocado Update
May 9, 2019

I know I said in my last blog that I would be moving on to topics other than avocados, but I couldn’t help myself. I had to show some of the fruit starting to grow on about half of my avocado trees. In my last blog, I shared pictures showing growth of my Lula, Choquette, Hass, and Oro Negro avocado trees. Most of these will have mature fruit this Fall. I promise, this will likely be my last blog on avocados until they start producing in the Fall. Don’t worry, I have other fruit trees to share in the coming weeks. With summer quickly approaching, I look forward to featuring my mango, citrus and some other more exotic trees.

Below, are photos of my Lula, Choquette, Hass, Oro Negro, Donnie, Fuerte, and Simmonds trees with immature avocados. So only seven of my 15 avocado trees have any avocados on them. But 13 of the trees have been planted for less than a year. My hope is to have a sizable crop of mature avocados in the Fall. Patience is key during seasons of growth.

Lula avocados are pear shaped and known for their high oil content. This variety originated in South Florida.

Choquette avocados aren’t currently in season. Although as you can see by the photo, my tree has some small fruit growing nicely. I look forward to seeing harvest in October through December.

Hass avocados (pictured above) are recognized as the most commercially popular avocado worldwide. In the United States alone, Hass avocados account for more than 80% of the avocado market.

What’s in a name? When translated to English, Oro Negro means black gold. Given it’s dark exterior and golden flesh, the name is very fitting if you ask me.

Donnie avocados are West Indian, meaning they are cold sensitive. Based on the photo above, you can see some small avocados developing. Typically, Donnie are medium size avocados with smooth, green skin.

The lone Fuerte avocado in this photo was a difficult tree to find. Once harvested, Fuerte avocados range from six to twelve ounces in size. Flavor wise, it is creamy, and features notes of hazelnut. Fuerte was the number one avocado in California prior to being overtaken by the Hass.

Did you know, Simmonds avocados are one of South Florida’s most popular varieties? Mature Simmonds avocados are large and range from 16 to 24 ounces. This is what you see in Publix as the “Florida or Green avocado.”

Please feel free to keep your avocado related questions and comments coming. If someone you know may be interested in learning more about avocados or other health related topics, I invite you to share these emails with them or ask them to reach out to me and we will add them to our mailing list.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Avocado Tree Growth
April 10, 2019

Those of you who are not yet tired of my avocado focus as of late, are in luck. I wanted to add a bit more. For anyone interested in planting your own avocado trees, I thought I would provide a visual update featuring some from my personal landscape.

As I previously mentioned, Lula avocados are a great option for Florida landscapes as they have a long harvesting season. Most harvesting occurs between October and February.

Also pictured, my Choquette avocado tree is known for producing large fruits. When in season and properly cared for, you can anticipate avocados that can weigh up to three pounds. The photo (left) shows just how large this particular avocado typically grows.

Back in December, I mentioned that you are likely to find Hass avocados at the grocery store. Remember, the Hass is the smaller, higher oil content variety most people like. There is a level of convenience that comes with planting a Hass avocado tree at home. Once planted from a nursery or garden center, your grafted tree should begin to produce a crop after three or four years, or less depending the care given. Recently, I have found a nursery in Orlando that said they expect a shipment of Hass avocado trees within the next three weeks. I plan to check them out and will be happy to let anyone interested know if they look good.

The Oro Negro variety experiences peak production between November and January. Compared to Choquette avocados, these are smaller in weight and diameter and higher in oil content.

While the images you see here were taken only a matter of months apart, you can see how quickly each tree will grow if properly cared for. After all, an avocado a day keeps the doctor away!

If someone you know may be interested in learning more about avocados or other health related topics, I invite you to share these emails with them or ask them to reach out to me and we will add them to our mailing list.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Planting Your Avocado Tree
March 18, 2019

In my last post, I talked about selecting the right variety of avocado for your landscape depending on the cold hardiness needed and the oil content desired among other things, as well as making sure that you choose your grafted avocado tree from a reputable nursery.

Once you have selected your tree, probably the most important next step is making sure you plant your avocado tree properly in your landscape. Your cold sensitive avocado trees should typically be planted in the southern exposure of your yard and preferably shielded from strong winds by your home or other structure. Avocado trees are easily damaged by high winds. Most avocado trees also prefer full sunlight where they produce better crops.

You should avoid planting in low lying areas that are subject to any type of flooding or have a very high-water table as avocado trees are very susceptible to root disease in poorly drained soils. To avoid this, you can plant your avocado tree on a raised mound using native soil 2 to 4 feet high by 4 to 6 feet in diameter.

Make sure not to plant your avocado tree below ground level as this will result in potential root disease. Because the tree will tend to settle after planting it, you should plant it 2 to 3 inches above grade even if you are not mounding it.

You should not add fertilizer, compost or other additives to the soil when you plant your tree. Just reuse the native soil and add some mulch not touching the trunk but about 2 feet out from around the trunk to keep weeds down and moisture in.

You should water your newly planted tree about every other day for the first week or two and then about twice per week for the first couple of years unless you are in the rainy season. I tend to water my trees now that they are established about once a week unless there is an extended dry period.

Again, do not fertilize your tree when newly planted, but after a month or two fertilize every other month for the first year and then about three times per year after that, in the Spring, Summer and Fall. Do not fertilize in the Winter when most avocado trees will be more dormant.

I know this all sounds somewhat technical, but it is so important to start your avocado tree off right to avoid later issues. For those of you who are serious about planting an avocado tree or two, I highly recommend the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension article “Avocado Growing in the Florida Home Landscape”

I would be curious to hear from any of you who may be planning on purchasing and planting a new avocado tree this Spring.

If someone you know may be interested in learning more about avocados or other health related topics, I invite you to share these emails with them or ask them to reach out to me and we will add them to our mailing list.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Selecting Avocado Trees
March 1, 2019

I know it’s been a few weeks since my last Healthy Lawyer email. Please forgive the delay.

We have had an unusually warm winter and my avocado trees have been growing nicely even through the winter when they are typically dormant. I wanted to give some input and ideas for those of you who may be considering planting an avocado tree or two come spring.

First, whatever you do, I would recommend that you plant a healthy grafted avocado tree rather than try to grow something from an avocado seed. It can take anywhere from 8 to 12 years to see any fruit when you plant from a seed. They say it typically takes 2 to 4 years to start getting fruit when you plant a healthy grafted avocado tree.

I say healthy because in my desperation for a specific variety of avocado tree I purchased a root bound Fuerte avocado tree from a nursery I had never dealt with before and the tree has struggled. It’s a little embarrassing but I may devote an entire email to that at some point to help you all avoid that same mistake.

Remember, there are three races of avocado trees, Mexican, Guatemalan and West Indian. The two primary varieties of avocados you see in the grocery store are the Florida Simmonds avocado (West Indian) or the California Hass avocado (Mexican/Guatemalan hybrid). The Hass is the smaller higher oil content avocado that most people prefer. Remember, that is a very healthy monounsaturated oil.

We are in climate zone 9B in Central Florida which means we can get well below freezing in the winter. For those of you living north and west of downtown Orlando, especially out in the country where it gets colder in the winter, I would recommend a Mexican variety avocado. That’s because the Mexican varieties can handle temperatures down into the low 20s once they are established. Some options are the Mexicola, Joey and Brogdon, which is a cold tolerant complex hybrid.

If you live closer to downtown where there is a lot of asphalt and concrete which tends to hold the heat and keep things a bit warmer in the winter, or if you live on a lake and have what they call a micro-climate which keeps things a bit warmer, I might recommend a West Indian type avocado like the Simmonds, Choquette, or Russell.

Then of course you have the Guatemalan type avocados which are also very good and are somewhere in between the Mexican and West Indian avocados in cold hardiness.

Finally, there are many hybrids that combine these three different races of avocados creating many different shapes, sizes, textures and flavors.

Most people don’t know this but there are more than 500 different varieties of avocados worldwide. But there are probably less than a dozen avocados that are sold commercially and the Hass avocado controls about 80% of the world avocado market.

I would suggest that you contact a reputable nursery and find out what varieties of avocados they sell and ask a lot of questions of someone knowledgeable about avocados.

Because selecting the type of avocado tree or trees you will purchase is only the first step, I will talk about how to plant and care for your new avocado tree or enhance your existing one in my next Healthy Lawyer installment.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Let’s Make Guacamole!
January 28, 2019

I hope everyone enjoyed my last Healthy Lawyer blog on the amazing health benefits of the avocado as a “Superfood“. If you missed it or the first two blogs you can sign up for our Mailing List here.
 
I know everyone loves guacamole and it’s a great way to enjoy lots of avocado. So I’ve included my wife’s recipe for guacamole and some pictures below of the ingredients and the final product.

Depending on how much guacamole you want to make, use four to six smaller Hass type avocados or two or three larger Florida type avocados.

Add the following according to taste:
 

About 1/4 chopped onion
One diced tomato 
Fresh cilantro
Minced or fresh garlic
Juice from one or more whole limes 
Salt and pepper
Hot sauce if you want to add some kick
I sometimes add a touch of olive oil         

Other ideas include putting avocado slices on your toast in the mornings. The go to for most people is adding avocado to their salad, which we learned last time makes the healthy nutrients of the salad about five times more bio-available to your body.
 
Finally, I recently ran across a recipe for making chocolate mousse with avocado rather than heavy whipping cream as a more healthy alternative. It’s pretty simple: 2 large ripe avocados, 3 to 4 tablespoons of honey, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 50 g of raw cacao powder (or powdered bakers chocolate.)
 
It would be fun to hear some of your recipes and how you include avocados in your diet. 
 
Enjoy. 
 
Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

An Avocado A Day…
January 4, 2019

This is the third installment of my “Healthy Lawyer” series. In this segment, I am going to focus on the nutritional and health benefits of the avocado. My only disclaimer is that I am not a doctor, so I can’t give medical advice.

The avocado is considered a “super food” that is not only packed with numerous vitamins and nutrients, but it also helps reduce blood pressure, reduce bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol, helps to prevent cancer and can help you lose weight. What more can you say?

Avocados contain all of the B vitamins except for B 12 that you get from animal protein. They offer more potassium than bananas, more pectin than apples and more carotenoid lutein than any other fruit, which protects against macular degeneration and cataracts.

Sometimes avocados get a bad rap for having a high fat content which averages about 20 times more than any other fruit. However, avocado oil contains mostly health promoting monounsaturated fats, especially oleic acid. And avocado fat increases the absorption and conversion of healthy nutrients from low fat vegetables up to five times greater. I encourage you to add an avocado to your healthy salad and reap even greater benefits.

Avocados are filled with antioxidants and are also anti-inflammatory which helps reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome. They are high in magnesium and numerous micro nutrients and have high levels of folate which is essential for prevention of birth defects, is heart healthy and helps reduce the risk of stroke.

I hope this hasn’t been too technical. As you can tell, I believe in the health benefits of avocados. A client recently sent me a very good health related avocado article. If you are interested, I have included a link below.

https://realfarmacy.com/daily-avocado/

In conclusion, I would say we should replace “An apple a day …” with “An avocado a day keeps the doctor away.”

If someone you know may be interested in learning more about avocados or other health related topics, I invite you to share these emails with them or ask them to reach out to me and we will add them to our mailing list

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

Hass and Lula Avocados
December 6, 2018

I was so surprised and encouraged by the number of messages I personally received in response to my first healthy lawyer email. I want to thank everyone who sent me those kind words as they have motivated me to continue sharing my journey with all who are interested.

Since my introduction, I have added a Myers Lemon tree to my landscape. I will get to this one and my other fruit trees later. However, to continue with the “avocado man” theme, I thought I might start this blog with the first two avocado trees I planted some years ago, and then each week add a spotlight on a new avocado tree that I planted this year.

My first two avocado trees were a Hass which is a Mexican/Guatemalan Hybrid and a Lula which is a Guatemalan cultivar. The Hass avocado tree is currently producing with the first full crop of avocados. I don’t have much to report on my Lula as it is not in season and has no avocados currently. My other 13 avocado trees are all less than a year old, but all are doing well and should be in production within the next couple of years. Yes, it is my goal to be overrun with avocados in the next few years so that I can share them with all my friends, family and colleagues.

Just to give you a quick tutorial on avocado trees, there are three “races” of avocado trees: Mexican, Guatemalan and West Indian. The Mexican are the most cold tolerant while the West Indian are the least cold tolerant. The Guatemalan fall in the middle. Avocado trees are for the most part self-pollinating and are type “A” and type “B”. From what I’ve read, you will get better production from your trees if you have at least one of each types of trees, “A” and “B” in your yard.

The only two types of avocados you can generally get in the grocery store are the Hass which is the smaller higher oil content variety most people like and the Simmonds, which is the larger green “Florida” avocado. It is lower in calories, but also lower in oil content and so less flavorful. Avocados contain a healthy type of oil that studies show actually helps you lose weight.

I think it is so cool to be able to grow so many different varieties of avocados that you cannot get in the grocery store. I will share with you some of these less well-known avocados in future emails as well as how to successfully plant them and care for them in your landscape.

Sorry this email has focused so much on avocados, but of course they are a passion of mine. They are also a very healthy food and should be included in your diet if you enjoy them.  There are lots of YouTube videos and articles online for anyone wanting to educate themselves on the joy of planting and harvesting your own avocados.

If someone you know may be interested in learning more about avocados or other health related topics, I invite you to share these emails with them or ask them to reach out to me and we will add them to our mailing list.

Thomas D. Marks, Esquire

The Healthy Lawyer: An Introduction
November 9, 2018