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E mbrace the N erves IT WILL HELP YOU BECOME A BETTER PUBLIC SPEAKER
AUGUST 2023
(think of the Micro Machine commercials from the 1980s) in order to excel in debate. Mixing my natural abilities with hours upon hours of practice and experience allowed me to hone my skills. Spending so much time with the debate team took much of the mysticism and self-consciousness out of public speaking for me, but that doesn’t mean the nervousness faded away. To this day, I still feel some nerves whenever I need to speak in front of a crowd. No matter how many public speeches you give, you will still feel a little anxious beforehand, but I actually think this is a good thing. If you stop feeling nervous or that rush of adrenaline disappears, in my opinion, you stop caring, and that’s when you lose your edge. You can’t let feelings of nervousness, anxiety, or anticipation stop you from doing something you may benefit from or enjoy. Nervousness or anxiety and excitement can be two sides of the same coin. Since my high school days, I’ve traded the debate stage for a courtroom, and yes, the nerves remain. I never let nervousness stand in my way, though, as it’s simply part of the process. I care about doing an excellent job for my clients and put in as much preparation as possible, ensuring that nerves don’t interfere. I am constantly thinking about everything I need to say in the months and the days leading up to a court appearance. I am constantly thinking about opening and closing arguments, direct and cross examination of witnesses, how to rebut the other side’s arguments, how to obtain and present evidence or keep out the other side’s evidence, the relevant case and statutory law, and on and on. Those thoughts never leave my mind leading up to trial, not even when I’m taking a shower, getting ready for bed or driving home from work. It can create a level of stress that’s not suitable for everyone, but I thrive in it. I always tell my team that there are many parts of each case that you can’t control, but you can control whether you’re the most prepared person in the room or not. There’s no better feeling than knowing you’re fully prepared going to court and killing it by presenting the best case possible for a client. Public speaking can feel scary at times, but in most cases, it’s just adrenaline surging through your body. That adrenaline will make you a stronger presenter. And when it’s all said and done, that adrenaline melts from your body, leaving you ready for a very long nap. Public speaking is exhilarating and exhausting, but it sure is rewarding.
For many, there’s no greater fear than speaking in public. The thought of stepping in front of a crowd to give a speech or presentation is enough to make a person’s knees shake while sweat starts to drip from their brows. I was fortunate enough that I never had to experience that immense fear. I actually developed a proclivity for public speaking at an early age. I don’t honestly remember why, but when I was in high school, something compelled me to try out for the debate team. Maybe it was because my parents always told me how argumentative I was, or I was just looking for something to fill my time and build my resume for college. Regardless of the reason, I thought I would be great at debate, so I tried out and made the junior varsity team. When I attended my first tournament, I completely cleaned house. I was naturally great at debate. Just like how some people can just naturally run fast or draw well, I was able to debate others well. What a strange gift I was given. People were impressed with my skills, and I was quickly moved up to the varsity team. Throughout the rest of my school career, I traveled across the country for tournaments and spent every weekend working on my debate skills. You have to possess strong speaking skills and be able to speak fast
- Esther Vayman
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W here Y ou E xercise M atters
These findings confirm something you may have already expected to be true. You probably feel better after a bike ride through the park than spending the same time on a stationary bike in your basement. Exercise on gym equipment can also be tedious, and many people spend the bulk of their time staring at the clock, counting down the minutes until they’re finished. We’re less likely to have that problem outside. Unsurprisingly, doctors argue that any physical activity is better than none. Using gym equipment will provide far more benefits than sitting on your couch. But when you have the option to exercise outdoors, you should take it. Just remember that all outdoor exercise is not created equal. The Washington Post reports that outdoor activity in urban areas surrounded by concrete does not appear to have the same benefits as exercise in quieter, greener places.
WHY OUTDOOR MOVEMENT IS BETTER
We all know exercise is good for our physical and mental health. But whether we’re going on a jog through nature or clocking minutes on a treadmill, it’s all the same — right? A recent study suggests there may be a crucial difference. There is mounting evidence that where you exercise matters. A small study from the University of Victoria recently researched the benefits of “green exercise,” or that performed in nature. The authors of the 2023 paper found that physical activity in natural surroundings had benefits beyond those generally associated with movement. Study participants who went on 15-minute walks outside saw improvements in memory and concentration more significantly than when they performed the same exercise indoors. Neuroscientists behind the research can only guess why these results occurred. Some experts believe being out in nature helps us relax and quiet our brains. Additional research also demonstrates that people generally find outdoor exercise less physically taxing than indoor varieties — even when the outdoor exercise is quite strenuous.
Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to see an impact. From a mental health perspective, 15 minutes of green exercise at a time seems to be ideal. So, get out as much as you can. And when you’re stuck inside due to weather or other circumstances, continue to make the most of it with as much exercise as possible.
N auman ’ s J ourney to B ecoming a T rusted S enior A ttorney chemistry, he decided that a different career path would suit him better. He participated in a work-study program at Emory’s patent office, where he discovered a fascination for the legal field. Nauman spent three years after graduation going from law office to law office, volunteering his time to determine if law was truly his passion. Finally, someone gave him a chance, and he climbed the ladder at that firm until there was nowhere else to go. That’s when Nauman decided to enroll in law school at Barry University in Florida. After taking internships, graduating from law school, and working in the criminal defense field, Nauman made a change to family law. He worked for a prominent Florida-based firm that wanted to expand into Georgia. Nauman took over the expansion and ran that Georgia office for two years until his wife became ill, and he had to focus on caring for his son. After his wife’s condition improved and his son turned 7, Nauman was ready to work in a legal office setting once again, which led him to us. Nauman doesn’t believe in wasting his clients’ time or money. He works diligently to figure out their goals quickly and build a plan to ensure they’re achievable. He speaks his mind and always provides practical advice for his clients. He will also take time to serve as emotional and legal support for his clients, as he knows how challenging this situation can be. Outside of work, Nauman spends most of his time with his son, but he also enjoys playing video games whenever he gets an opportunity. We know that Nauman will be a great source of support and knowledge for our clients! FROM PASSION TO PURPOSE
Hiring a new attorney for our firm can be a challenging task. We look for compassionate candidates who will put our clients’ needs first and care about making a difference in others’ lives. In June, we added Nauman to our team as our new senior attorney. His expertise and passion have already made a difference in our clients’ lives, and we can’t wait to see how he continues to assist us and our clients in the future. Nauman’s journey to our office starts back when he was still in college at Emory University. He was initially a pre-med student, but after taking
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WHAT IS A PLACE OR EVENT YOU ENJOY GOING TO IN GEORGIA?
Abby Blue Ridge, GA
Esther Strawberry picking with my kids at Southern Belle Farms Ashlyn The Eastern Mari Tybee Island Madison Saturday morning Farmers Market in Downtown Canton Emily R. Tybee Island Rachel Lake Oconee
Amanda H. Savannah, GA Katie Alive After 5 in Downtown Roswell Tom Visiting my parents’ lake house up at Lake Oconee Bella Tequila Mama Morgan Amicalola Falls Emily L. Savannah, GA Loni The High Museum Sara Shootin’ the Hooch!
T omato G nocchi K ebabs
ingredients • 1/4 cup fresh parsley • 1/4 cup fresh basil • 1/4 cup and 2 tbsp extra- virgin olive oil, divided • 2 tsp capers • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice • 1 clove garlic
BRAIN BREAK
• Kosher salt • 1 12-oz package fresh gnocchi • 2 pints cherry tomatoes • 2 small red onions, cut into 2-inch pieces • Freshly ground black pepper
Inspired by Delish.com
These quick, healthy kebabs are perfect for your next barbecue!
directions 1. In a food processor, combine parsley, basil, 1/4 cup oil, capers, lemon juice, and garlic to make salsa verde. Blend until smooth, season to taste with salt, and chill until ready to serve. 2. If using bamboo skewers, soak in water to prevent scorching. 3. In a large bowl, toss gnocchi, tomatoes, onions, and remaining oil until coated. Season with salt and pepper, then thread gnocchi, tomatoes, and onions onto the skewers. 4. On a grill preheated to medium-high, cook the kebabs, flipping halfway through, until the tomatoes are blistered and the gnocchi is browned (7–8 minutes). 5. Transfer kebabs to a platter, drizzle with salsa verde, and serve.
BACKPACK BOOKS DAFFODIL
LEARNING METEOR PRODUCE SMORES SUNSCREEN YARDWORK
FESTIVAL FRIENDS HARVEST
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THE COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NERVOUSNESS AND PUBLIC SPEAKING
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ARE YOU EXERCISING IN THE RIGHT PLACE? INTRODUCING NAUMAN, OUR NEW SENIOR ATTORNEY
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QUESTION AND ANSWERS TOMATO GNOCCHI KEBABS
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YOU’RE FORBIDDEN FROM WEARING HEELS IN GREECE?!
NO FOOD, BEVERAGES, GUM, OR HIGH HEELS ALLOWED!
H ow G reece I s P reserving I ts A ncient S ites
If you wanted to pinpoint a civilization that has impacted our society and government in more ways than one, ancient Greece should be one of the first civilizations you think of. The ancient Greeks made significant contributions to philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, literature, and so much more. Today, you can still visit their magnificent monuments and tour ancient sites — it will surely make you feel like you’ve returned to ancient times! However, if you plan on traveling to Greece, there are a few things you need to know. For example, in 2009, Greek authorities implemented a law stating that you cannot wear high heels while walking around these historic sites.
tear. And visitors (or locals) wearing stiletto heels can damage these sites even more with their spiked heels. But that’s not the only law Greek authorities instituted in 2009. You also can’t bring food, drinks, or gum to most of these historical sites. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece, was built in 161 A.D. To this day, it continues to be a stadium for live performances, festivals, and other activities. But in 2009, Greek authorities and the venue’s maintenance crew knew something needed to change. As the crew cleaned up the stadium, they discovered nearly 60 pounds of chewing gum beneath the marble seats. Because of this incident of littering — and many others — Greek officials came up with a solution, and new laws were created.
If we want to preserve the history of these places and the culture of the ancient Greeks, continue learning more about them, and use their buildings and stadiums, then we must follow the preventive measures the modern Greeks put in place. So, if you plan on traveling to Greece to see the iconic Parthenon temple, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of Apollo, the Temple of Zeus, or other locations, be sure to wear your comfiest shoes, and eat and drink before visiting!
Because these monuments are centuries old, they have experienced a lot of wear and
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