Brauns Law Firm - November 2022

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404-418-8244

NOV 2022

3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330, DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096 WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM

THE CULTURE SURROUNDING FOOTBALL

I cannot count the number of times people have asked me if I play football or basketball. I’m 6 foot, 5 inches — and 270 pounds — so everyone just assumes I was this rock star football player. In Maryland, lacrosse was the go-to sport, and I played that until we moved down South. The high school I transferred to was in a very rural, agricultural area. I think this happened in my sophomore year, but I’d been walking down the hallway when the coach saw me, immediately grabbed me, and said, “You’re playing football.” So, I played for about two years — my junior and senior years. I weighed about 240 pounds then, so I was a pretty big guy, and I definitely had the size. We actually ended up making it all the way to the state championship! The guys who took us there had all been starters — your typical football guys who began playing when they came out of the womb. Though I’m a big guy, I got beaten up pretty badly, and after that state championship, I ended my football career. I really enjoyed it, though, and it actually taught me a lot. I’ve played other sports before, too. I was on the varsity teams and played recreational LEARNING REAL- LIFE VALUES FROM SPORTS

sports all the way to my mid-20s, but that team camaraderie and brotherhood felt unlike anything I’ve experienced before. I don’t know if it’s because everyone’s down in the trenches getting roughed up together, but whether you’re on a team of

But with college football — all that hype and the personalities — it’s just a really fun time, and I get why people love it so much. If I had to pick an SEC team, it would be Georgia, hands down, but honestly, anyone other than Alabama. Granted, they are consistently good, which is hard with so many students coming in and out and coaching turnovers, but it is definitely remarkable — even though I

10 or a group of five, I genuinely think it’s true for all sports that they provide many experiences for real life. They teach you how to be

despise them.

coachable, provide learning opportunities through hard work and progression, and help people improve while also obtaining personal goals. It’s just neat when everybody is pulling for something together. That work ethic — being able to outwork everyone physically and mentally — has stayed with me forever. I love to watch football, and though I went to Clemson University, which is a big football school, I didn’t play. I had no desire to play with those guys because they were quite literally shadows over me! I definitely prefer college over the NFL because I think the student body’s energy in the stands is much more enjoyable. It’s so different from the NFL, which I find kind of boring.

They had a lot of big games at Clemson, and we played at Death Valley, which held over 80,000 people. The tailgates up north are nothing compared to the ones down here. I lived for Saturday football games because all my roommates and college friends had their families come by, and they would bring all kinds of delicious foods to the tailgate before the games. Being starving college students back then, it felt great finally eating home-cooked meals and taking the leftovers that nobody wanted. Everybody seemed so welcoming, and that culture surrounding football brings back all kinds of happy memories that remain absolutely electric.

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Many people deal with unwelcome, intrusive thoughts every day. We’ve all experienced unwanted images or notions racing through our minds, and it can be difficult to concentrate on what we need to be doing. These thoughts can also trigger feelings of anxiety, worry, and shame. But know you’re not alone — some estimate that 6 million Americans are affected, so many can empathize with what you’re going through. Here is some good advice about intrusive thoughts and how to manage them in a healthy way. HOW TO MANAGE INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS

What are intrusive thoughts?

Intrusive thoughts are unwanted ideas that occur without warning at any time, often triggered by stress or anxiety, or even short-term biological factors, like hormone shifts. They can come in many forms, and people often worry about what they mean, so naturally, they try to control or stop the ideas altogether. But trying to prohibit these thoughts can make them more persistent.

What can you do?

Instead of pushing these thoughts out of your mind, acknowledge that they are intrusive concepts and allow them to linger. Understand they will pass, but prepare yourself for other unwanted thoughts. Most importantly, push through and continue to complete your tasks and errands when the thoughts occur. If you try to control, suppress, question, act, or engage with intrusive thoughts, you’ll likely be even more fixated on them. You’ll feel more in control if you allow them to pass through your brain instead of trying to avoid and ignore them. Intrusive thoughts can feel distressing, but allowing them to freely enter and exit your mind will provide you with ease — even if it doesn’t seem that way. However, if intrusive ideas persist and continually impair your ability to work or do things you enjoy, seek information from a mental health professional. You’re never alone in your struggles, so don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it.

WE LOVE HEARING FROM OUR CLIENTS!

“I called Brauns Law after my accident because my boss recommended me to them to handle my case. I was not at fault, but there was a weird car insurance situation for the responsible driver. Brauns Law got that resolved. Yessenia was professional and prompt and called me often to update me on my case and check in. I liked getting information and letters from their office as well. They came through for me and were able to get me a good settlement!” -Alexandrea M.

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DON’T GO UNTREATED

BE AWARE OF LATENT INJURIES

• Fractures Bones may break when the

Being in any type of accident is difficult enough, but sometimes the shock and adrenaline can mask the signs and symptoms of a severe injury. A latent injury is something that did exist but went unnoticed at the time of the mechanical force or trauma that directly caused the injury. Some injuries can stay latent for weeks, months, or even years, and the most common personal injuries that don’t show up right away include head, leg, ankle, neck, and back injuries.

forces of a crash apply too much physical stress. Hairline fractures are difficult to notice without any excessive movement.

In order to avoid these latent injuries — even if you claim to feel fine — you should

always seek a medical examination immediately. If you wait too long to be checked, an undiscovered and untreated injury may cause serious medical conditions that can affect you for the rest of your life.

Some of the most common latent injuries include:

• Head injuries Concussions are one of the most common injuries that cannot be detected easily. The symptoms can show up immediately, in a few hours, or even days after the initial injury. • Whiplash Whiplash occurs when the neck suddenly jerks back and forth, resulting in pinched spinal discs or even nerve damage. • Dashboard knee A tear or rupture to the knee’s ligaments can be caused by the shinbone being pushed backward.

These unfortunate circumstances can affect your well-being as well as your personal injury case. If you claim to feel fine, insurance companies can use that to their advantage and dismiss your case because you waited too long to bring it forward. Making personal health a priority ensures that medical professionals find potential damages sooner rather than later — and this sends a powerful message that the injury was severe enough to treat the same day.

If you have suffered serious injuries due to an accident, call Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. at 404-348-8396 so we can help you get the justice you deserve.

Inspired by TasteOfHome.com

APPLE CRANBERRY CRISP

CASSEROLE ELECTION GRATITUDE HARVEST

RAKING REMEMBRANCE SAINTS SQUASH

THANKSGIVING TOPAZ TURKEY VETERAN

INGREDIENTS • 3 cups peeled and chopped tart apples

• 1 tbsp lemon juice • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 1/3 cup butter, cold • Vanilla ice cream (optional)

• 1 1/2 cups cranberries • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, divided

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a large bowl, combine apples, cranberries, 1/4 cup brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. 3. Grease an 8-inch baking dish and pour the mixture into it. 4. In a small bowl, mix flour and the remaining brown sugar. Cut in cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle this over the fruit. 5. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. If desired, serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

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404-418-8244 | WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330 DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096

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How I Experienced the Camaraderie of Sports

A Healthy Way to Manage Intrusive Thoughts

Our Clients Say It Best!

Be Aware of Latent Injuries

Apple Cranberry Crisp

Calico Cat Saves Owner From Would-Be Burglars

GUARD CAT MODE ACTIVATED FELINE DEFENDER PREVENTS ROBBERY

We’ve heard of guard dogs, but have you ever heard of a guard cat? Well, Bandit the calico cat somehow knew exactly what to do when she spied intruders at her owner’s back door! Some may call it instinct, some may call it luck, but to Fred Everitt, she’s a hero.

Everitt, a 68-year-old retired oral surgeon, was sound asleep in his Mississippi home on Sunday, July 24, when Bandit started letting out deep meows sometime between 2:30–3 a.m. Everitt assumed Bandit had seen another cat or other animal outside. Cats tend to be active at night, and Bandit is no exception. She’s been known to roam the living room and explore the kitchen cabinets while Everitt sleeps soundly. He quickly realized it was something else when she came into his room and tried to pull his comforters off and clawed at his arms.

that before,” Everitt said. “I went, ‘What in the world is wrong with you?’”

Bandit’s persistence eventually pulled him from bed, and after throwing his robe on, he went to investigate. When he finally got into the kitchen, he noticed two figures — one with a crowbar and one with what looked like a handgun — trying to break into his back door. By the time Everitt returned from retrieving his own handgun, the intruders were gone. Thankfully, it didn’t turn into a confrontational situation, and Everitt gave credit to the 20-pound cat that he adopted from a Humane Society. If it hadn’t been for Bandit’s alertness, it could’ve been a completely different story.

“I want to let people know that you save a life when you adopt from a pet shelter or rescue one,” Everitt said, “but the tides could be turned. You never know when you save an animal if they’re going to save you.”

Bandit’s behavior was unusual, so Everitt knew something was wrong. “She had never done

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