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D ecember 2025
WHAT KIND OF SOCIETY DO WE WANT? Lately, I find myself asking what kind of society we’ve agreed to live in. It’s not just the obvious choices, such as laws and elections, but also philosophical ones. What kind of world are we building when we decide how much freedom people have to make their own decisions? Are we creating a place where everyone has some say over their own life, or a place where others tell us what our value is and what we must do to earn it? These questions hover over everything else, including education, work, and how we care for one another, before we ever get to words on a page that claim them as rights. The next question is: What kind of society do we wish to create and sustain? Is it one where we compete with each other? If so, we must acknowledge that competition will result in brutal consequences for some; it may literally come down to who will eat and who will starve. Do we instead wish for a world where we are all concerned and care for each other, a collaborative society where everyone can come as close to thriving as possible? Is it better to have a society that protects and provides for its members or one that pits them against each other? T he R ight to L ive , P lay , and D ecide
December is Universal Rights Month, and it’s easy to think of rights as handed down from on high. But every right we recognize is a declaration about the kind of world we want to live in. Do we want to continue a society in which we are autonomous, or do we want one in which our superiors dictate our direction? As a collective of people in a democratic society, we must ask ourselves: Who and what values will steer the ship? Do we want a right to self-determination or not? If we wish to remain a democratic society, our value judgments must reflect that.
The Declaration on Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child are bodies of work that suggest a model society would craft itself to enrich human existence rather than restrict it. So, we should discuss whether people have the right to clean water and air. In their natural states, we could drink from streams and breathe in the air, but somewhere, somebody thought it was their right to pollute or contaminate them. There should be a balance. Who had that opportunity, and why did they get to maximize their personal benefit at the expense of everyone else? Is that really the best way to design a society? The Rights of the Child include the right to recreate and play, a radical concept to me. Many of us come from a background where providing a product is our primary value. If we don’t have the right to recreate built in, our only value seems to be what we produce. If that’s your decision and your personal judgment of value, that’s cool. That ought to be your call. If we as a society say you don’t have the right to play, that’s a dictatorial stance, and I think it’s fair to ask whether we should reject that. Society doesn’t have the right to tell you to produce all the time or what job you must do. Ultimately, the Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child are a vision for the society we choose to create. They remind us that a better world is possible when we recognize everyone’s right to live, play, learn, and decide their own value. The true measure of our society is how well we uphold those rights for everyone.
–Michael Manely
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Need help with a family law matter? Call now to book a strategy session. (866) 245-5685
G ifts T hat G row With the end of the year right around the corner, many of us are thinking about wrapping presents, setting new resolutions for the future, and supporting the people
Give the gift of education. If your child or another family member is college-bound, you can contribute to their education in several ways. Under the same gift tax exclusion, you can make direct payments to their educational institution to help cover their tuition. You can’t pay this money to the students, and it won’t go toward books, boarding, or other school expenses. Similarly, you can make direct payments to a medical provider to help cover the cost of a loved one’s health care. Establish a trust. Trusts are a beneficial way to transfer assets to someone. Unlike a traditional gift, which gives little control over what happens to the assets once they are gone, an irrevocable trust gives you some power over how they are distributed and used. They can help you avoid probate and protect valuable assets from creditors. There are different types of trusts; you can even establish one to support a charity you care about. With thoughtful planning, your year-end gifts can create a lasting impact on your loved ones and your legacy. Contact The Manely Firm to craft an estate strategy that protects your family and maximizes your gifting potential. MAXIMIZE YOUR ANNUAL GIFT TAX EXCLUSION BEFORE YEAR-END
or causes we love. Did you know your estate plan holds the key to doing all three? By using the right strategies to gift assets, you can give a meaningful gift, work toward your financial goals, protect your family, and potentially reduce your tax burden. From helping to pay for college tuition to
maximizing tax exclusions, here’s how to turn your generosity into a legacy that lasts before the calendar flips. Maximize the annual gift tax exclusion. Every year, you can gift money to individuals up to a certain dollar amount without triggering a gift tax or counting against your lifetime gift tax exemption. In 2025 and 2026, you can give up to $19,000 per recipient without reporting it to the IRS. You can double your impact as a married couple by combining your annual exclusions to gift $38,000. You can give this amount to as many recipients as you wish.
Mindfulness Tips for Children in Transition M aking S pirits B right , E ven T hrough D ivorce
For kids navigating a divorce, the usual sparkle of the holidays can stir up big emotions, such as excitement, worry, and perhaps a little sadness. Instead of just hoping things will all work out, you can give your children the tools they need to recognize and express their feelings, and have a little agency and choice in a situation where they may feel they have very little control. From low-pressure emotional check- ins to simple mindfulness exercises, you can help bring them comfort so they can Divorce changes the dynamics and expected routines of the holidays, which can cause stress, a feeling of being torn between both parents, and mood swings for kids. No matter how busy the celebrations get, take time for emotional check-ins with your children. Help them identify their feelings and find positive ways to express them. If they are having difficulty sharing, you can do activities that feel fun and safe to help them open up. Prompt them to draw something, help them write a card or journal entry, play games, or even use puppets to act out their feelings. Merry Mindfulness enjoy all the magic moments. Emotional Check-ins Mindfulness activities can help your children handle the holiday stress of two households. Try sensory-based techniques, such as the five things exercise, to help
them become more present. Ask them to notice five things they see, hear, or feel, and teach them that they can do this anytime they feel afraid or nervous. A few other ideas: Practice taking 10 deep breaths together, ask them to identify experiences through their five senses, or build a simple routine of taking short walks each morning leading up to the holiday. Getting grounded through stress-easing habits may help children feel safe, calm, and more in control. Age-Appropriate Agency Divorce can leave children feeling like they have no say or choice in the matter. Providing them with opportunities to make small decisions and choices about the holiday can give them a sense of control and stability. Assign them age-appropriate tasks to choose from, such as what to decorate first or which holiday movie to have on in the background. Let them have some say in what traditions they want to celebrate, or have them each choose a holiday recipe to try. If you want more tips and resources to support your children through family transitions, visit AllFamilyLaw.com to explore our resources.
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Elevate the classic ham and cheese sandwich with these party-pleasing prosciutto and cheese sliders. C rispy P rosciutto and C heese S liders
My grandmother always used to say, “If you lie down with dogs, you’re bound to get fleas.” Your Community Impacts Your Habits, Choices, and Happiness MATTERS OF THE HEART This bit of Appalachian wisdom always makes me chuckle, but it speaks to a more profound truth: The people you surround yourself with shape your habits, how you see the world, and who you will become. Emotional intelligence often focuses inward as you understand your feelings and responses, but it’s just as important to look outward at the community around you. Ask yourself if those in your circle exercise emotional intelligence. Do they support you in your efforts to exercise emotional intelligence? Do they promote an environment conducive to emotional intelligence? When you have supportive people in your life, they help you believe in yourself, encourage you, and make life more positive, fun, and fulfilling. They will interact with you and others in an emotionally intelligent way and model that behavior. It’s much easier to be in a relationship with people who have this knowledge and choose to exercise it. Consider any heated situation where you stepped away from an emotionally triggering event to think clearly about how you would respond. Those who practice emotional intelligence recognize this self-control as a wise step, versus others who may label you as passive or even encourage you to react emotionally and “stand up for yourself.” When you build a community with a shared vocabulary of emotional intelligence, you take a significant step toward feeling a true sense of belonging. With any lesson you learn, you’ll lose it if you don’t practice. When you surround yourself with friends who are also working to develop emotional intelligence, it becomes easier to internalize your vision and respond intelligently. The holiday season is a time when we lean into community and decide what we will celebrate. This can be an emotionally charged time, with so many memories tied to family gatherings and events like these. As you make your plans, consider the community you want to build to be your best self. The bottom line is to choose wisely whom you invite into your life. The right community will celebrate the holidays with you and help you grow into the person you want to be.
I ngredients • 3 oz thinly sliced prosciutto • 1 package dinner rolls, halved lengthwise • 1/4 cup fig preserves • 3/4 cup shredded fontina cheese • 3/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese
Inspired by HalfBakedHarvest.com
• 1/2 cup melted butter • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce • 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme • 2 chopped garlic cloves • Black pepper, to taste
D irections 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, arrange prosciutto and bake for 8–10 minutes. 3. On a separate lined baking sheet, place the bottom halves of the rolls and spread fig preserves over them. 4. Layer with fontina and Swiss cheese. Top with crispy prosciutto. 5. Place the top half of the rolls over the prosciutto and gently press down. 6. In a bowl, mix butter, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, garlic, and black pepper. 7. Pour butter mixture over rolls. Cover with foil and bake 10 minutes. 8. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes, and separate before serving.
“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” –H amilton W right M abie
–Shelia Manely Need help with a family law matter? Call now to book a strategy session. (866) 245-5685
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Are We Building the World We Want?
Protect Your Wealth While Helping Loved Ones
Tiny Hearts, Big Holiday Feelings
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The Company You Keep
Crispy Prosciutto and Cheese Sliders
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The Hidden Price Tag on Clutter
THE COST OF CLUTTER HOW MINIMALISM CAN SAVE YOU THOUSANDS
We’ve all been there: staring at a closet full of clothes and thinking, “I have nothing to wear.” Or paying rent for a bigger apartment just to store things we barely use. Clutter isn’t just a space problem; it’s a money problem. Every unused subscription silently chips away at your finances. The good news is that minimalism offers a way out. Far from being about deprivation, it’s about reclaiming control of your space, spending, and savings. The Hidden Price of ‘Stuff’
more in the long run. Choosing durability and timeless designs over impulse buys protects your wallet and reduces waste. Simplifying Finances Clutter can even creep into your bank account. Old subscriptions, overlapping accounts, and unused memberships all nibble away at your budget. By canceling what you don’t use and streamlining your finances, you save money and reduce the mental load of tracking your bills. Downsizing Expenses One of the biggest financial wins of minimalism comes from downsizing.
Every purchase comes with two price tags: the sticker price and the hidden costs. That $50 gadget isn’t just $50; it might also mean
higher credit card interest if you’re carrying debt, or another box in the attic eating up storage space. The more we accumulate, the more we pay to maintain, store, clean, and eventually replace those items. That’s where minimalism comes in. It forces us to ask: “Do I really need this, or is it just clutter in disguise?” Quality Over Quantity Minimalism doesn’t mean buying nothing. Instead, it’s about buying better. One high- quality pair of shoes can last for years, while three cheap pairs wear out quickly and cost
A smaller home or apartment doesn’t just mean lower rent or mortgage; it also slashes utilities, maintenance, insurance, and even property taxes.
More Space for What Matters A clutter-free environment frees up mental bandwidth. With fewer distractions, you can focus on what truly matters: building a side hustle, nurturing relationships, or enjoying a calmer, more intentional life.
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