Take a look at our February newsletter!
FEBRUARY 2024
GO BEYOND SMALL TALK! EMBRACE THE IMPORTANCE OF MEANINGFUL FRIENDSHIPS
We can all agree that making friends as an adult is hard. Like, really hard. Unlike elementary school days when we could make a classroom full of friends in just a few hours, friendships at our age require consistent work. Don’t let this fact discourage you! Friendships are crucial to our emotional well-being;
know that your efforts will pay off in the long run. Dan Buettner is a writer who worked for National Geographic and studied what he calls “Blue Zones,” communities where people, on average, live to be over 100. He searched for commonalities not only in their diet and activity levels but also in their relationships. What he found was three connections tied these Blue Zones together:
evidence shows it also benefits our physical health. February is International Friendship Month, and I want to share how I was able to make new friends recently and why this effort is so vital for us. I just completed a six-month-long course with the Small Business Administration, where I was able to improve my skills as a business
1. FAMILY FIRST: Connections with family members were always prioritized over business and careers. Spend time with your loved ones and maintain those bonds. 2. SHARED SPIRITUAL GROUP: A close-knit community that shares spirituality and creates a sense of belonging and unconditional support. 3. UPLIFTING FRIENDSHIPS: People who aren’t part of your religion
owner and meet other local entrepreneurs. Everyone had businesses from various niches, and I was glad I could meet a diverse group of people outside my professional comfort zone. Throughout these six months, I was able to connect with business owners in my own community, receive diverse insights, and, overall, just make a few new friends!
or family but are there to encourage you in your life and help you when you steer off course.
Of course, making new friends doesn’t always have to be centered around your professional life. You can also forge new relationships through your favorite hobbies! You might wonder how you can do this with your hobbies if you only have one or two mostly solitary ones. If you’re like me, I struggled to find new hobbies when my kids left home. My main passion was cooking, but how could I make that social? Well, that’s when my social butterfly husband, Dave, came to the rescue.
Having these connections in your life not only brings you joy but can contribute to a longer, happier life. What’s the point of living
a long life if you’re unhappy and grumpy? When you work toward creating and strengthening these relationships, you’re working toward a more fulfilling and longer life.
He has since invited people to cook and eat with us, making the entire process
So, I urge you to explore new hobbies, find people with similar interests, and get out of your comfort zone! Let National Friendship Month be your chance to embark on a journey of finding your people and keeping them close. I wish you the best of luck!
a mingling experience. With his help, we had not one but two Thanksgiving dinner parties this past November!
If this all sounds like a lot of work, you aren’t wrong. However, I want you to
WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM | 1
UNLOCK HISTORY'S STRANGEST SECRETS
ANCIENT BREWS TO GHOSTLY WINNERS!
History is more than just a chronicle of battles and treaties; it's a rich tapestry woven with odd and almost unbelievable events that can mystify us now. A dive into the quirky corners of the past can reveal historical anomalies, including ancient beverages and victories from beyond the grave. Besides entertaining us, our history shows our ancestors as multifaceted, creative, and peculiar as we are today. THE FIRST BEER In ancient Sumeria, people were not just trailblazers in writing and architecture but also avid brewers. Archaeologists unearthed a 5,000-year-old Sumerian tablet depicting individuals consuming a beer-like substance through reed straws from a shared bowl. This ancient concoction, possibly the earliest known beer recipe, underscores the longstanding human passion for alcohol and communal gatherings. RACING TO THE GRAVE One of the most astonishing stories in sports history involves jockey Frank Hayes. In a 1923 horse race at Belmont Park, New York, Hayes achieved victory
from beyond the grave. Suffering a fatal heart attack mid-race, he miraculously remained in the saddle, and his horse, Sweet Kiss, crossed the finish line in first place. This extraordinary event remains the sole known instance in sports where a participant posthumously claimed the gold medal. A SMOKING MONKEY Looking to the East, North Korea's Pyongyang Zoo featured another oddity in 2016: Azalea, a smoking chimpanzee. Trained to ignite and puff on cigarettes, this chimpanzee was a peculiar draw for visitors. In sparking controversy over animal rights, Azalea illustrates the bizarre and often questionable ways humans have historically interacted with animals. These stories demonstrate that the annals of history are not just repositories of conventional wisdom and significant events but also a collection of the bizarre, the unusual, and the extraordinary. These peculiar tales help us gain a more nuanced and colorful understanding of our collective past, shedding light on the complexity and eccentricity of our history.
WHERE FLAVOR MEETS WELLNESS SPICE UP YOUR LIFE
As you can imagine, I met plenty of incredible people and discovered their businesses in my SBA course! One owner I would love to share with you (and her delicious products) is Bhavana Barde, who founded Super Food Veda. If you love Indian cuisine, spices, and Ayurvedic wellness, Super Food Veda will be your next culinary obsession! My husband Dave and I had the opportunity to sample and purchase her all- natural and small-batch products at a local vegan festival. Everything we have tried of hers, from the Vegan Khichadi to the spice blends, have been easy to use and absolutely delicious! Whether you’re looking for an authentic chai tea blend or tandoori spice rub, Bhavana has it, and it’s exceptional. Not only is her business a new favorite of mine, I’m grateful to have become friends with such a kind and genuine person through the course of our six months together in the SBA THRIVE program. She actively engages with our community by offering cooking classes for charity events, Yoga events, small gatherings, and so much more. In the summer of 2004, Bhavana came to the U.S. with her daughter and husband, which was no easy feat! After years of making this country her home, she also shared her delicious cooking with family and friends from her home.
After never-ending encouragement from loved ones that her cooking deserved to be shared, Bhavana began her journey into business. That's when she created her catering company, Bhavana Foods LLC, in 2011! If you’ve tried her food, you wouldn’t be surprised that her catering business was a hit! In the summer of 2018, Bhavana started another company, Super Food Veda, which offers all the Indian spices you need to get authentic meals in your own home. Besides being addictively delicious, Bhavana’s spices, ingredients, and foods are good for you. With Ayurveda origins, these products hold superfood benefits and align with the idea that food is medicine. When you incorporate these ingredients into your daily diet, you know you’re nourishing your body with powerful antioxidants and immune-boosting properties.
If you’d like to learn more about Super Food Veda and Bhavana’s story, visit SuperFoodVeda.com . I promise you’ll find something you’ll love!
2 | call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM
HAVE A LAUGH!
A SIMPLE GUIDE TO MAKING FRIENDS DAVE'S BLUEPRINT FOR CRAFTING LASTING FRIENDSHIPS AS AN ADULT Making friends as an adult may seem daunting or even downright impossible, but with a dash of initiative and a sprinkle of shared interests, you can build meaningful connections easier than you think. Take my husband Dave, for instance, who had spent decades turning his hobbies into avenues for friendship. His approach offered valuable insights for others who may not be quite as extroverted like myself. Identify places where like-minded individuals gather. For moms, active participation in kids' activities opens doors to meeting other parents. Shared moments on the sidelines can evolve into lasting friendships.
This chicken tikka masala recipe is a tantalizing journey for your taste buds.
When I first met Dave, he was a bachelor for two decades and had made a conscious and continuous effort to socialize. He immersed himself in different social groups, from swim teams to cycling clubs. Actively engaging in these communities allowed him to connect with people who shared his passions and hobbies. Cycling with groups became a social event, not just exercise. His weekend hiking groups offered him a similar opportunity — you’d be surprised by the camaraderie that can be forged on trails! Shared interests, whether kids, hobbies, or sports, lay the foundation for connections. If you do make it to one of these events, I can see how you might feel stuck on how to actually start a conversation. Easy! Ask them about their hiking gear or the best swim routines. Ask them whatever makes them feel like the expert. Everybody loves getting to assume the role of mentor! With my husband’s help, we had a Thanksgiving dinner with over 20 guests. The shared joy of good food and company turned my prior acquaintances into fortified friends. I honestly never thought I’d have such a jam-packed holiday party, but here we were! Making friends as an adult is about breaking the ice, finding common ground, and fostering connections. Dave's story teaches us that by embracing our hobbies, actively participating in communities, and initiating conversations, we can build friendships that stand the test of time. So, go ahead, take a leaf out of Dave's book. I know I will!
INGREDIENTS
•
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• • • • • •
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp paprika
• • • • •
1 onion, diced
1 14-oz can diced tomatoes 1 14-oz can tomato sauce 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt Salt and pepper, to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tbsp minced ginger 1 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp garam masala
DIRECTIONS
1. Place the chicken, onion, garlic, ginger, cumin, garam masala, coriander, and paprika in the slow cooker.
2. Pour in the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, stirring to combine.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours.
4. When the chicken is done cooking, stir in the Greek yogurt.
5.
Serve over rice or with naan and enjoy!
call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM | 3
WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
6100 DUTCHMANS LN. STE. 601 LOUISVILLE, KY 40205
INSIDE
A GUIDE TO BUILDING MEANINGFUL FRIENDSHIPS IN ADULTHOOD 1 ANCIENT BREWS, A SMOKING MONKEY, AND GHOSTLY WINS! BHAVANA BARDE'S SUPER FOOD VEDA! 2 HOW DAVE MASTERED THE ART OF MAKING FRIENDS SLOW COOKER CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA 3 MEET TANK, A CANINE COMPANION AND PROTECTOR 4
A HEROIC HOUND’S STORY THE BRAVERY OF TANK THE GERMAN SHEPHERD
In a remarkable display of courage and instinct, a German shepherd named Tank recently became an overnight sensation. His heroic act, captured in a TikTok video with over 45 million views, showcased the extraordinary bravery of our canine companions. Tank's story begins on an ordinary day that quickly turned extraordinary when he saved his owner’s 6-year-old son from a dog attack in November 2022. As the young boy played in the front yard of his South Florida home, a neighboring dog, unrestrained and aggressive, charged toward him. In an instant, Tank lept into action. The dog pushed the boy to the ground and then placed himself between the boy and the oncoming threat, averting a possible tragedy. Tank's quick thinking and fearless stance saved him and demonstrated the innate protective nature of German shepherds. German shepherds are a breed recognized by the American Kennel Club for their loyalty and protectiveness, making them the first choice for families seeking a dependable guardian. Like many German shepherds, Tank possesses a unique blend of courage, intelligence, and loyalty. These dogs are not
just pets; they are devoted protectors and family members willing to put themselves in harm's way for their loved ones.
Tank's story is more than a viral sensation; it's a testament to the deep bond between dogs and humans. His actions remind us of dogs' invaluable role in our lives, offering unconditional love and unwavering protection when needed.
The boy’s mom wrote on social media that Tank is their “highly skilled professional home security officer.”
“This is Tank & no, he is not professionally trained. He’s just a man with killer instincts, who loves a good chew toy,” she wrote after posting a video of Tank playing with his favorite toy. In today's world, Tank stands out as a true hero. As we watch Tank's story, we are reminded of the extraordinary capabilities of our four-legged friends and their profound impact on our lives. It's a reminder that sometimes, heroes don't wear capes; they have four paws and a tail.
4 | WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator