Check out our January newsletter!
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J anuary 2023
Through Family Conflict and Beyond S trengthening R elationships
Happy New Year! January is always an exciting time for our office. As I’ve previously shared, we host a firm launch every year as our way to recommit ourselves to this work and grow our skills. Each launch has a theme that will serve as a framework for continued learning throughout the year. Last year, our goals revolved around the concept of compassion. Our team learned a lot, and will continue implementing those lessons into our practice this year. Throughout the last quarter of 2022, we worked on ways to weave compassion into our policies, procedures, and organization. Hiring compassionate people is only the first step to creating a compassionate firm. We aim to ensure we’re structurally compassionate in what we ask of our clients and how we interact with them on every level. Building upon what we’ve learned, our 2023 focus is empowering our clients in their relationships. Every decision during a divorce or other pivotal time impacts your future trajectory, extending to your relationships with your children, family, friends, and ex. As guides through family conflict, we want to seize this opportunity to help our clients create their better tomorrow.
One of the resources we’ll be using is David Emerald’s book “The Power of TED* (*The Empowerment Dynamic).” One of the book’s fundamental tenets is how we compulsively put ourselves and each other in the roles of victims, persecutors, and rescuers. It is a viewpoint that strips us of our power and keeps us constantly reacting to others. By reframing these roles — and seeing people as creators, challengers, and coaches instead — we can find more silver linings in life and build stronger relationships. We’ll also be drawing upon the work of John David Mann, Bob Burg, and Ana Gabriel Mann in their “Go-Giver” series. Michael shared some thoughts on the book “The Go-Giver Marriage” in a recent newsletter. It focuses on building bonds through attending, appreciating, allowing, believing, and growing. The framework is helpful for all types of relationships, whether it’s an ongoing marriage, a co-parenting relationship, or coworkers who regularly interact. The ability to form and maintain relationships is essential during times of family conflict. Our compassion integrity training taught us to become more emotionally aware and compassionate towards ourselves and others. Our newest endeavor will help us and our clients resolve conflict and redesign their relationships so they’re healthier and stronger than ever. We’ll be diving deeper into all of these concepts throughout the newsletter in 2023, so stay tuned for additional resources we’ll be using to better ourselves — and, hopefully, improve your way of interacting with the world. I hope you’ll join us on this journey to meet our full potential and find the happiness we all deserve.
Of course, no one can resolve every conflict. Some people will never see eye to eye, and that includes divorced couples. But those with kids will need to learn how to cope with conflict and work through their differences to raise
well-adjusted children. We want to empower ourselves and our clients with the
knowledge and skills to build stronger relationships to help them take charge of their futures.
–Shelia Manely
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Call for a Consultation: ( 866) 245-5685
D rink M ore W ater ! EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO TRICK YOURSELF INTO DOING SO
For many, maintaining proper hydration is difficult — after all, water is essentially tasteless. According to Mayo Clinic, women should be ingesting 11.5 cups of water each day, and men should have 15.5 cups daily. This amount can be tough to swallow, but water
is essential for your health, skin, and bodily functions. Here are some tips to up your water game.
sipping water through a straw can help you take in more without realizing it.
INVEST IN A ‘FLUID BUDDY.’ Believe it or not, purchasing a thermos or reusable water bottle and taking it everywhere is a great way to increase your water intake. With a constant reminder to drink H2O in your cupholder, purse, or on your desk, taking a sip here and there will never slip your mind. CONSUME FOODS RICH IN H2O. Did you know that most fruits and vegetables are rich in water? Watermelon is 91% water, celery is 95% water, zucchini is 95% water, and honeydew and cantaloupe are both 90% water. Not only are these fruits refreshing, but they pack a punch when it comes to hydration! DON’T FORGET THE STRAW. Straws help you consume more fluid in a shorter amount of time. Whether at home or a restaurant,
BUILD A ROUTINE. For many, drinking water just slips their minds. By building a routine, you’ll be on your way to meeting your daily hydration needs without thinking twice. For example, you can get in the habit of drinking one large glass of water before bed and another upon waking. A large glass of water before each meal is also beneficial. FLAVOR YOUR WATER. Whether you use citrus, mint leaves, cucumbers, or other flavor enhancers, giving your water a hint of a favorable taste will help you drink more without feeling like a chore. Whether consuming water is difficult because you are busy, forget to drink, get bored by the flavorless taste, or dislike the taste, with these tips, you are sure to be on your way to maintaining hydration.
A W isconsin G lobetrotter Meet Alisha Esselstein!
People began telling Alisha Esselstein she should become a lawyer around fourth grade, and it was advice she took to heart. After growing up in a small town of 800 people in Wisconsin, she knew she wanted to see the world, so she enrolled at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. Her undergraduate program presented multiple opportunities to travel, and she studied abroad in Kenya. It didn’t take long for Alisha to decide she wanted to practice international law, and she received a federal fellowship to learn Swahili while she studied. After graduating and passing the bar, she worked as an attorney at an international human rights organization focusing on gender-based violence. Later, Alisha joined the International Center for Transitional Justice, a nonprofit that develops responses for accountability after mass human rights abuse incidents. Her work has taken her across the globe, and she has lived in multiple countries and continents. Earlier this year, Alisha joined The Manely Firm. She was excited to find a local firm specializing
in international law, and The Manely Firm was impressed by her experience and credentials. She says, “It’s great being able to practice law while living in Savannah,” where her family recently moved to enjoy the coast and affordable cost of living. “I really enjoy legal research and writing,” Alisha says of her work. “I like applying the law to fact patterns,” or any case’s key details. “We’re supposed to know the law as attorneys, but everyone can argue a different side of a case using the exact same law,” she explains. Creating an argument that wins an abduction case, for example, is particularly satisfying. Since starting, Alisha has found particular interest in international and domestic violence cases, both of which draw upon her previous nonprofit experience. “This is the first firm I’ve worked for; I’ve always worked in nonprofits,” Alisha says. “But I like how much opportunity and flexibility there is, and I get to work with people who have similar backgrounds and have traveled all over the place. It has been a fun experience to have at work.”
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www.allfamilylaw.com
“Our character is not defined in the good times, but in the hard times.” –P aul B rodie
A B etter W ay F orward What Compassionate Integrity Training Taught Us
A ir F ryer R oasted S almon W ith S autéed B alsamic S pinach
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
We all want to live by our values — whatever they may be — but that’s often easier said than done. Though we may believe in kindness and patience, practicing them in difficult moments is a challenge. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn. Living according to our values is a skill just like any other, and it takes regular practice to do well. In 2022, The Manely Firm completed many hours of Compassionate Integrity Training (CIT) through the Center for Compassion, Integrity, and Secular Ethics at Life University. We undertook the training because the ability to operate with compassionate integrity is essential to practicing family law. We help people through some of the most difficult and emotionally charged times in their lives, so we must be able to appreciate each of our clients’ whole and unique humanity. We also believe that CIT can positively impact our clients’ lives directly. If they, too, can develop self-regulation and compassion skills, they will be better able to achieve their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Emotional awareness helps us form better relationships and react appropriately to emotional situations. CIT works with participants through three levels. The first is self-cultivation. Self- cultivation teaches us how to read and regulate our emotions, identify our values, feel compassion toward ourselves, and develop inner strength. Relating to others, the second module, focuses on how to avoid harming others while also taking care of ourselves through qualities like empathy, gratitude, and forgiveness. The final level, engaging with systems, helps us learn how to be compassionate within systems bigger than ourselves — whether that’s our workplace, the legal system, or our family — and how to promote constructive change. Crucially, these skills take practice. According to CIT, compassionate integrity is “not something achieved merely as a result of wishful thinking or force of will, but rather as the result of building up knowledge, understanding, and a set of concrete skills.” We can’t become better people overnight, but we can with hard work. As our staff has learned to live their values, we’ve been able to elevate our service to our clients and see better outcomes in our personal lives. We also aim to model and share those skills with our clients so they can work through family conflicts more healthily. If you’d like to learn more about CIT or enroll in an online training program, you can do so at CompassionateIntegrity.org .
I ngredients
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3 tsp olive oil, divided
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Dash of crushed red pepper flakes 10 cups fresh baby spinach (about 10 oz) 6 small tomatoes, cut into 1/2- inch pieces
4 salmon fillets (6 oz each) 1 1/2 tsp reduced-sodium seafood seasoning
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1/4 tsp pepper
1 garlic clove, sliced
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1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
D irections 1.
Preheat air fryer to 450 F. Rub 1 tsp oil over both sides of salmon, then sprinkle with seafood seasoning and pepper. In a greased air fryer basket, place salmon. 2. Cook about 10–12 minutes until fish flakes easily. 3. In a 6-qt stockpot, place remaining oil, garlic, and pepper flakes. Heat over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Stir in tomatoes; heat through. 4. In a small saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil. Cook until vinegar is reduced by half, then remove from heat. 5. Arrange spinach on serving dish. Place salmon over spinach mixture and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
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Call for a Consultation: ( 866) 245-5685
211 Roswell St. NE Marietta, GA 30060 (866) 687-8561 www.allfamilylaw.com
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Why We’re Focused On Relationships in 2023
Tips for Maintaining Hydration Meet Attorney Alisha Esselstein!
What Is Compassionate Integrity Training? Air Fryer Roasted Salmon With Sautéed Balsamic Spinach
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3 Unique Winter Activities to Experience
W ant to T ry S omething N ew T his W inter ? C heck O ut T hese 3 U nique A ctivities
SNOWMOBILE TOURS IN ALASKA Alaska is one of America’s hidden gems, even though it’s the biggest U.S. state. If you’re looking for unique winter experiences, you’ll want to visit Alaska. One of the coolest adventures you can experience is a snowmobile tour. You can hop aboard a snowmobile and ride the same path as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race or visit some beautiful mountains and glaciers. Many of these tours will lead you right past moose, bears, and caribou as you take in the beauty of Alaska’s environment. SKATING ON MIRROR LAKE AT LAKE PLACID Lake Placid, New York, had the privilege of hosting the Winter Olympics twice, so it’s no surprise they have some amazing cold weather activities to showcase. A truly exceptional experience is skating on Mirror Lake. They have a 2-mile-long ice track where you can test your speed and areas for people to skate openly or play a game of ice hockey. You can even participate in dog sledding there. It’s a beautiful area filled with various winter activities. ICE FISHING EXCURSIONS IN BRAINERD, MINNESOTA While fishing might be more commonly known as a spring or summer activity, you can get plenty of fishing done in the winter if you know where to go. Brainerd is considered one of the best places to visit for ice fishing enthusiasts. There are over 300 fishing lakes near the city, and you can expect to catch bluegill, walleye, largemouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, and many others. If you like to fish throughout the year, check out Brainerd.
Throughout winter, we have the opportunity to participate in many activities that are only possible during this season. We can ski, snowboard, snowshoe, sled, and more. While some people fly south for winter vacations to escape the cold weather, others travel to extraordinary winter destinations within our country. Plenty of options are available if you’re looking for a truly unique experience this winter. Here are three winter activities that will leave you with long-lasting memories.
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