The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm Managing Partner, Shannon Pawley, Writes About How Being Deprived Of Touch During COVID-19 Is Taking A Toll.
Estate & Asset Protection Attorney and Managing Partner, Shannon Pawley explores the effects that being deprived of touch long-term may be having on people as a result of the isolation and social distancing requirements of COVID-19.
DECATUR, GA, October 27, 2020: Shannon Pawley, Managing Partner of The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm, has posted a new article on the law firm’s website entitled “How The Pandemic Has Made Us More Aware Of The Importance Of Touch.” Ms. Pawley expresses her concern for clients, family, friends and anyone who is deprived of simple touch.
Pawley writes, “Back in mid-March, when the COVID-19 pandemic became a serious threat in the U.S. and orders to shelter-in-place, social distance and avoid simple handshakes and any form of human touch were established, my first thought was not about how touch-starved people would become.” She adds, “But now, nearly one year later, this is where my thoughts have turned.”
“I am fortunate,” says Pawley, “in that I have my family and pets to hug. But, I have clients, friends and family members, many of whom are single, elderly and live alone and some who are in assisted living facilities.” She goes on to say, “Because many people I know are completely deprived of the companionship of their families and even the simplest human touch, I decided to explore this idea further. Let me say upfront, my heart goes out to everyone who is deprived of this most basic of human needs.”
Pawley points out, “It’s amazing how much a seemingly simple handshake can mean and communicate to us humans.” She further elaborates, “According to an article on the subject I recently read, “touch releases hormones, including oxytocin—the cuddle hormone—and the endogenous opioids (endorphins) that can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and even decrease pain.”
According to Pawley, “A handshake is often a way that trust is established between two people in business and all new relationships.” She continues, “We’re taught how to give a proper handshake that communicates strength and confidence and trust. In more intimate and personal relationships,” says Pawley, “we are accustomed to greeting our family members and friends with a hug, and a kiss on the cheek. Being deprived of these simple brief moments of touch didn’t sound like a big deal when this all began. But, now the strain of being deprived of simple touch is taking its toll.”
The entire article can be read at https://www.elderlawgeorgia.com/blog/how-the-pandemic-has-made-us-more-aware-of-the-importance-of-touch/
About The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm
The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm was established to serve the legal needs of retiring citizens. The Firm focuses its entire practice on providing strategies to protect independence, privacy, assets and taxes from the government. Victoria Collier and Shannon Pawley have grown their law practice and financial services practice by providing excellent customer satisfaction with personalized wealth protection plans. This same customer centric focus is shared in Victoria Collier’s financial services practice.
About Victoria Collier
Victoria L. Collier, CELA founded The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm to serve the legal needs of retiring individuals. Victoria is also Co-Founder of Red Feather Financial. At both firms WE BELIEVE that people should not have to lose everything they’ve worked a lifetime to earn and that every person is an individual who deserves respect and the highest quality of life possible, regardless of age or ability. We also believe that privacy and protection are the keys to personal peace.
Victoria enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during Desert Storm, 1989-1995, and also served in the U.S. Army Reserves, 1Lt. 2001-2004, JAG Corps. Victoria is a national expert on the VA Wartime Pension for veterans and their widows who need additional assistance with activities of daily living and helping them qualify for and receive tax-free income from the VA to pay for it. Victoria graduated from Valdosta State University with a B.A. in Psychology and then University of Nebraska, College of Law. In 2014, Victoria was awarded with the Alumni Master Award from the University of Nebraska.
Victoria is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) through The National Elder Law Foundation and has been named as the only attorney in Georgia as “Fellow” of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Victoria was appointed by Governor Perdue to the Georgia Council on Aging, 2010 – 2016 and was awarded Dekalb County Veteran of the Year, 2013. She is the author of 47 Secret Veterans Benefits for Seniors; Paying for Long Term Care – Financial Help for Wartime Veterans: The VA Aid & Attendance Benefit. Victoria has co-authored several books: Blooper Episodes in Estate Planning, Don’t Go Broke in a Nursing Home, and Protect Your IRA: Avoid the 5 Common Mistakes. Most notably, Victoria co-authored the National Best Seller, The Road to Success, with Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
About Shannon M. Pawley, J.D., LL.M
Shannon is the firm’s Managing Partner. Born and raised in the Tidewater area of Virginia to a tightknit family with strong military service roots, Shannon learned from an early age the value of hard work and the importance of social awareness to ensure you always leave a situation in a better place than how you entered it. In her junior year of high school, Shannon served as U.S. House of Representatives Page during the 101st United States Congressional Session in Washington, D.C. This experience exposed her to numerous new cultures and worldly issues. Walking away from her experience as a U.S. House of Representative Page, Shannon knew that she wanted to pursue legal studies and be able to assist others in obtaining the best results available in difficult situations.
Shannon earned her undergraduate degree at North Carolina Wesleyan College and pursued a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. After obtaining her law degree and becoming a licensed attorney in Michigan, she continued her educational pursuit by acquiring a LL.M. (Master of Law) in Taxation from Wayne State University.
In her professional tenure, Shannon has represented the full spectrum of clients from international blue-chip companies to single parents. While she prospered as a litigator, Shannon began to realize her natural talent was as a mentor by developing others in their practice and procedures. That led her to focusing more on the operational aspect of the legal practice. Prior to joining The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm, Shannon was the Vice President of Litigation Operations with a national law firm overseeing the litigation offices across the United States.
Through her partnership with Victoria Collier, Shannon has found a professional peer who shares her passion to assist others to age with dignity, grace, and independence. Together, they strive to improve the life of each client they interact with while preparing both the client and their family for the difficulties that come with aging. Shannon is licensed to practice law in both Georgia and Michigan. In addition, she is a VA Accredited Attorney.
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