It’s hard to believe that the year is at an end but, ready or not, 2019 is upon us. Having been around long enough to ring in more new years than I care to admit, I’ve developed habits designed to make the most of each year and to use the transition to set—and achieve—long-term goals. So, if you find yourself unsure of your next step as you prepare to take on the upcoming year, here are a few tried-and-true approaches to consider:

1. Spend time in prayer and meditation during these last quiet days of 2018. Personally, I tend to first reflect on the blessings the year brought me, then review its obstacles and my response to them. Next, I outline, in writing, the challenges I know the upcoming year has in store, and if I have solutions or other inspiration for tackling those issues, I write them down beside the corresponding challenge. At the end of 2019, I will look back to evaluate how well I handled each challenge and look to my mistakes as a learning experience.
2. Expect the unexpected. As sure as my name is Mike Kelly, we won’t get too far into the New Year before some event will leave us stunned or turned upside-down when we least expect it, whether positively or negatively so. When such a shock inevitably strikes, that’s when my faith is put to the test. As I’ve gotten older, and hopefully wiser, I have learned to take things in stride. I take a deep breath and clear my mind, maybe go into a quiet room, and try to come to grips with whatever it is I am facing.
3. Rather than making resolutions, which are flimsy and destined to be broken, sign a written pledge to yourself. I do this each year and place the pledge at the corner of my desk as a constant reminder. For example, for many years I pledged to improve my golf game by a certain number of strokes… until I finally learned that I don’t have time to devote to such a lost cause LOL! So, this year, I pledged to learn a new skill or improve on an old one, and I focused on typing proficiency. Typing, at least, helps me make a living; golf…not so much! I also write a pledge to eliminate a bad habit. There are several under consideration for 2019, and I’m sure my staff, my wife, and my children have quite a few suggestions! Currently, though, the leading contender is my habit of watching CNN for several hours before bed—let’s just say, lately, it doesn’t make for a good night’s sleep!

I am certain that 2019 will bring its fair share of challenges, but I look forward to the excitement in store, beginning with the grand opening of MKLG’s new Columbia office, located at 1523 Huger Street, Suite A, on January 2nd. Please feel free to drop by for a cup of coffee, a tour of the facilities, or just to say hello! In the meantime, I wish you a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!

Christmastime is upon us and, around the world, it is a most magical time of year. Being of the Christian faith, for me, Christmas has always been, above all else, a religious celebration commemorating the birth of our Savior. But the holiday’s underlying sentiments of gratitude, generosity, humility, and grace are core human values, making the Christmas tradition one that spans borders, cultures, and belief systems. From a global perspective, the holiday season inspires unity and warmth toward our fellow man and serves as a reminder that, regardless of our backgrounds, we share an inherent common denominator. 

 

Scaling back closer to home, my thoughts at Christmastime gravitate toward immense thankfulness for the many blessings bestowed upon me in this lifetime and toward my family members—both old and new—including my family at Mike Kelly Law Group. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I encourage you to find a quiet place to reflect and feel gratitude for all that you have and to enjoy your family traditions, or to create new ones. I also encourage you to pause to consider those who are less fortunate and, where possible, invite them to share in your merriment and holiday cheer. But most importantly, come January, let us all strive to maintain the same generous, humble, and joyous spirit that we feel at Christmastime.

We are in the prime of holiday festivities, and my calendar is filled with events to celebrate the season with friends, family, and colleagues across South Carolina. With my immediate family divided between Columbia and the Florence/Myrtle Beach area, I’ve been doing more traveling than usual—my poor car has driven over 6,000 miles in the last six weeks!! On the whole, when my destination promises time spent with my loved ones, I don’t mind hitting the road. However, as a personal injury lawyer, I am all too aware that, when it comes to driving, the most wonderful time of the year can also be the most dangerous time of the year due to an increase of drivers engaging in these behaviors:

• Fatigued Driving: In addition to our usual responsibilities, the holidays bring more social engagements and household chores that keep us on the go and, often, unrested. But fatigued driving is dangerous—someone who is operating their car without having had sufficient sleep is three times more likely to be involved in a crash.
• Impaired Driving: For some, the holiday spirit can inspire overindulgence on holiday spirits. On average, during the last two weeks of December, 40% of traffic fatalities stem from crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers. So, especially during this time, stay mindful of your surroundings and know that you may very well be sharing the road with an impaired driver.
• Distracted Driving: Whether it’s due to texting warm holiday wishes to friends, checking social media, or gazing at Christmas lights, statistics show that, during the winter holiday, distracted driving increases by one-third. So put away your smartphone and be on the lookout for inattentive travelers!

As I usually spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s in Myrtle Beach, working from the Mike Kelly Law Group office on the Grand Strand, I am witness to these driving don’ts on a grand scale. Myrtle Beach is no longer just a summertime resort—more and more people are bringing their families to the area for Christmas every year. The swell of tourism means that the road is filled with drivers who are not familiar with the roadways, who are looking at maps on their smartphones, and who may have had a few too many as sometimes happens in Myrtle Beach. So, although my cautionary advice may seem exaggerated to some, I understand firsthand the dangers of these driving behaviors and assure you that it is not.

With that said, no matter how far away you roam this holiday season, if you plan to be on the road, please exercise caution and stay attentive! Let’s make this holiday a safe and happy one!

Without a doubt, 2018 has been a whirlwind of new blessings and exciting changes, particularly with regard to my personal life. Ready for more, I am pleased to announce that 2019 is teeing up to be another transformative year for me, this time, professionally. Mike Kelly Law Group is on the move—moving up, moving forward, and moving our Columbia location!

Beginning January 2, 2019, MKLG will be sporting a new address—1523 Huger Street, Suite A—conveniently located across the street from our current office.

Because the law and the legal industry are ever-evolving, so is the Mike Kelly Law Group. Every day, we strive to be more knowledgeable, more resourceful, and more effective than the day before. Naturally, as the firm has grown and changed, so has its needs. Our new office is optimally configured to support MKLG’s current operations, allowing us to offer even better and more efficient legal services.

For nearly two decades, the office at 500 Taylor Street has served me well, and some of my fondest and proudest memories reside there. But what I love most about the space is the group of brilliant, charismatic, and passionate men and women I share it with—my MKLG family—and they’re all coming with me! My team and I are thrilled to launch this next chapter together, and the move is just the tip of the iceberg. There are more, exciting changes in store for 2019, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, and always, we’re here for the people of South Carolina!

Ask anyone who knows me, and they will agree—I am a card-carrying, foam-finger-wearing cheerleader for the Midlands community, especially when it comes to the city of Columbia. Although I am not originally from Columbia, I have lived in the city for 47 years. My children (and granddaughter!) were born and raised here and, to me, it is home!!! Though it has its shortcomings just as any other town does, I could go on all day about the innumerable, wonderful things that I absolutely love about Columbia, SC. Fortunately for you, I can’t type fast enough to list them all (LOL!), so I’ll limit my rave to just the highlights.

For starters, I love local people and neighborhoods. Columbia is indeed a city of neighborhoods. A little-known fact is that Columbia is made up of approximately 90 neighborhoods. Perhaps it is for this reason that, despite Columbia’s large population, many of its residents—myself included—feel as though this city is more like a tight-knit community. It warms my heart to know that, just about anywhere I go these days, I will run into a neighbor or friend. The fellowship and communion among the people of our city is extremely special and makes me proud to call Columbia my home.

In addition to the flourishing and ever-growing sense of community in Columbia, the city has exploded in terms of its vibrancy and overall quality of living. One of my extra-favorite subjects is the local food scene, which is growing exponentially every day. The newly-opened BayLeaf restaurant is now serving up modern Indian cuisine in the Vista, and Halls Chophouse and Hendrix will be making their Main Street debuts within the next two months. But this growth would not be possible but for our city’s excellent leadership, from the Mayor and City Council, to the administrative heads, to the Yellow Shirts on Main Street. These men and women have worked hard to grow our city into what it is today, and I appreciate and commend their efforts!

Long live Columbia, my home!

Thanksgiving is upon us, and I recently read a devotional that really stimulated my appreciation for this holiday. The reading made me keenly aware of the significant amount of time that we, as human beings, spend wishing, hoping, or praying for things to go our way as compared to the time we spend expressing thanks for all of life’s gifts. I am no exception to the rule, and far too often find myself so caught up in the day-to-day that I forget to count my many blessings.

Still, as I grow older and (hopefully) wiser, I find myself living more in the present each day and drawing joy from what’s around me. When I take a step back to reflect on my life on this earth thus far, I am, quite simply, humbled and amazed by the countless, wonderful experiences, opportunities, and people I’ve encountered. As a KellyGram reader, you have shared in some of my latest blessings with me this year—my first grandchild and my beautiful bride, to name a few. This Thanksgiving, I intend to take some time to sit down and write down all for which I am most thankful, and would encourage you to do the same. Even better still, I have made a promise to myself that, from this day forward, when I find myself ruminating over that which could be better, I will turn my attention to the innumerable ways in which my life is already so, so good.

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

As we approach one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving, I have taken time to sit down with my team at MKLG and discuss why we do what we do as legal professionals. The bottom line is that—across the board—we all want to dedicate our careers and talents to helping people. I have said 10,000 times that no one walks through the doors of Mike Kelly Law Group and asks for our services because they are all well and good. Whether they are sick, injured, disabled, put out by their insurance company, or otherwise harmed, the folks we consult with every day have one thing in common: they don’t want to hire an attorney. These individuals come to our firm because their lives have been disrupted and cannot be restored without our help. My teammates and I don’t take this responsibility lightly—we roll up our sleeves and fight hard to get our clients real results.

We at the Mike Kelly Law Group are grateful to be in a position to positively impact the lives of others and, especially at this time of thanksgiving, we want to thank the many people that refer themselves and their friends, family, and neighbors to the firm. A referral is the highest form of compliment, and we honor your confidence in us with a commitment to excellence.

We’re the Mike Kelly Law Group, and we’re here for the people of South Carolina.

In anticipation of Tuesday’s midterm elections, we have all received an extra dose of politics over the past few weeks. Having graduated with a degree in political science, I am both fascinated and appalled by today’s political landscape. But focusing on a local election in Fairfield County over the past month or so reignited my civic pride and enthusiasm for democracy. For the past decade, Mike Kelly Law Group has maintained an office in Winnsboro, and we do not believe in generating profits in Fairfield without being part of the fabric of the community. One of the ways I stay involved is by following local politics and supporting candidates who are established community leaders and genuinely dedicated to public service. So naturally, when my great friend Clarence Gilbert announced that he was running for Fairfield County Council, I was thrilled!

Clarence Gilbert is a lifelong Fairfield County resident and a family man if ever there was one. He made his living in the corporate world before launching his own small business about 15 years ago. Among his other numerous contributions to his community, Clarence is a deacon at his church, St. Mark Baptist, and Vice Chair of the Fairfield Memorial Board of Trustees, and he served on the Fairfield Behavioral Health Service Board for six years. And now, commencing January 1, 2019, he will be the newly elected Fairfield County Council representative from District 7! I had the privilege of moderating a candidate forum in Winnsboro several weeks ago, and I’m excited to see Clarence’s common-sense approach implemented as he works to address the pressing issues in his county. Working with Clarence on his campaign—and celebrating his victory on election night at Mike Kelly Law Group’s East Washington Street office in Winnsboro—has reinvigorated my confidence in the power of public service and our political process. Congratulations, Clarence!

Early this week, my friend Ron Hagell of the Col. Jack Van Loan Chapter 303 of the Vietnam Veterans of America shared with me an upcoming event, sponsored by his local Chapter, that is not to be missed. On November 12th at 6:00 pm, the Nickelodeon Theatre in downtown Columbia will be hosting a free screening of the film A Solemn Promise: America’s Missing in Action in observation of Veterans Day. Following North Korea’s recent release of the remains of 55 American service members previously listed as Missing in Action, this film is sure to deliver a timely and poignant message about what the promise of “we will leave no one behind” truly means to our troops, their families, and our nation.

 

Though I never enlisted, I have the utmost respect and gratitude for those individuals who have served and who continue to serve, defend, and protect the liberties upon which America was built. We, as a nation, need to rally behind our troops and understand the sacrifices our veterans and their families have made on our behalves. With that goal in mind, I intend to seize this opportunity to view A Solemn Promise and encourage you all to join by booking your free tickets here!