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F ebruary 2023
Being Prepared and Other Lessons S cout ’ s H onor
The Boy Scouts of America was founded on Feb. 8, 1910, and the organization has impacted countless young men’s lives in the 113 years since. I’m among their number, and I’ve seen how the lessons of Scouting continue to resonate. While it has been decades since I last put on my uniform, my character and values remain influenced by the years I spent attending meetings, camping, and performing acts of service. I joined Scouts around age 10 and remained in the organization for roughly six years. I didn’t ever reach the Eagle rank, but I did have a lot of good fun. So, it’s exciting that my 7-year-old son is now following in my footsteps; he became a Cub Scout at the beginning of this school year. Scouting was his idea, and he couldn’t be more excited. He can’t wait to shoot bows and arrows and BB guns. He’s also looking forward to sleeping in a tent and spending days in the wilderness. As I’m writing this, we’re preparing for the Pinewood Derby. Each kid
gets a hunk of wood and four wheels they use (with adult assistance) to build the best, most aerodynamic miniature vehicle. He thinks it’s an incredibly exciting project.
Another benefit of Cub Scouts is that it allows my son and me to spend much more time together. At his age, the parents attend the Scouting meetings, so we can enjoy some quality time we’d otherwise go without during the week. I was shocked by how much of the Scout Oath I remembered during my first meeting. I guess it’s a little like church — when you recite something enough times, you never truly forget! Right now, my son is just having fun, which is as it should be. But I also hope he has the opportunity to learn some of the lessons that have stayed with me. Scout Law contains 12 qualities we should all try to live up to. A Scout should be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Those are many of the same values I learned at home and school and strive to live up to. As the law notes, it’s not always easy, but we should always try. Scouting also taught me the value of commitment. It was one of my first experiences with accountability for something I’d agreed to do. Scouting involves weekly meetings, camping trips, weekend activities, and service projects. Even when I didn’t want to do them, I did — a crucial lesson for every child to learn. Finally, the Scout Motto of “Be Prepared” has always stuck with me. It’s a mandate drilled into us, one of the essential qualities for an attorney. Your level of preparation can make or break a case, causing long-reaching consequences. No one is perfect, and that’s true of our family law clients. Everyone we help has factors that will work for them and against them — after all, we’re only human, and we all make mistakes. As a result, the outcome of a case often depends on being the most prepared attorney in the room. That’s the attorney I always aim to be, and I owe it largely to the Scout I once was.
–David Purvis
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5 F eel -G ood M ovies TO CHASE AWAY THE BLUES
3. ‘Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness’ — The plot of this animated movie is as creative as its title! It follows a cartoon hero named Chickenhare, who is 50% rabbit, 50% bird, and 100% confused about his place in the world. He’s also on a quest with friends to defeat his evil
Are you stuck in a TV rut and starting to feel down in the dumps? (Thanks, seasonal depression.) If so, check out one of these heartwarming movies for a pick-me-up.
uncle before it’s too late. Think of the film as a funny, adventurous, family-friendly take on the classic tale “The Ugly Duckling.” 4. ‘Dumplin’ ’ — Mashable called “Dumplin’” “the definition of sweet.” The movie stars Rosie (played by Jennifer Aniston) as a pageant- obsessed former beauty queen whose daughter, Willowdean, doesn’t fit conventional beauty standards. When Willowdean enters her mom’s pageant in a protest complete with dancing and Dolly Parton tunes, she sparks a small-town revolution. This movie is recommended for children ages 13 and up. 5. ‘We Can Be Heroes’ — Since its release in 2020, this superhero movie has quickly become a family favorite. The story opens with an aliens-versus- superheroes showdown, and when the aliens win and take the heroes hostage, their kids come to the rescue. As the title implies, the film will leave you feeling like you can be a hero, too.
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‘Rescued by Ruby’ — If your family loves dogs, this kid-friendly flick will be a real crowd-pleaser. It stars a pup named Ruby, who starts life as a shelter dog. After a state trooper rescues her, she becomes a search-and-rescue worker who finds and saves people. A true story inspired the uplifting tale, and according to some reviews, you may want to have tissues ready.
2. ‘Yes Day’ — Imagine spending an entire day saying “yes” to everything your kids requested. Congratulations: You’ve stepped into the plot of “Yes Day”! In this film, parents Alison and Carlos go along with their kids’ wildest desires and watch family bonding magic unfold. The Raising Children Network recommends this movie for adults and older kids only.
O ne F amily at a T ime Meet Daniele Johnson!
Daniele Johnson did all the hard work required to become an attorney, but she credits a seventh- grade teacher with putting the idea in her head. After borrowing and failing to return a friend’s notes before a big test, Daniele made the case to Mr. Yancy that her friend should receive a makeup exam. When she finished her argument, he told her, “You should go to law school.” She has practiced family law since 1999 and says, “I can’t imagine doing anything else.” Daniele chose the field after reflecting on her upbringing. “I had the love, guidance, consistency, and stability that my parents provided,” she says. “I realized that not every kid is lucky enough to have that. I wanted to practice family law because every family should have the opportunity to be successful and create the kind of home environment my parents provided for me.” Daniele came to The Manely Firm in 2022 after almost 20 years of running her own law practice. “I was doing it all,” she said. “Marketing, billing — it was just me. But since I’ve come to The Manely Firm, I’m so amazed at how much more I can do. Because it’s not just me and my 25
years of experience; I have an awesome team working with me.” Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Daniele met her husband, Erich, in law school and moved to Cobb County after he secured a job in the area. They have three children: 17-year-old twins and a 15-year-old. She explains that her family inspired her to become a sole practitioner years ago. “I wanted to be flexible enough to earn a decent living and be home for my children,” she says. Daniele is also well-traveled, and her family tries to take at least one trip abroad every year. “We’ve been all over the world,” she says. “Since I have a better understanding of different cultures and backgrounds, that helps with my guardian ad litem and international cases.” She went on to say, “By joining The Manely Firm, I’ve improved what I can offer by 100%.” And having more time to impact other people’s lives gives her great satisfaction. “Every family I help makes me feel like I’m helping the community,” she adds. “I feel like I’m making the world a better place, one family at a time.”
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“Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.” –V ivian K omori
A t O ur B est At The Manely Firm, being compassionate is our calling. Our clients are almost always struggling with a difficult time in their lives, and they need someone who will listen, sympathize, and be gentle with them. Our delivery of legal services is essential, but they must come after we’re compassionate with our clients as human beings. After all, as Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” But to show up for our clients, everyone working at The Manely Firm must be at their best. It’s much like putting your own oxygen mask on first in the event of an emergency on an airplane. That’s why the first level of Compassion Integrity Training (CIT) we underwent last year is self-cultivation. We must be psychologically healthy and strong to provide care for other people. Self-cultivation incorporates four components: calming the body and mind, ethical mindfulness, emotional awareness, and self-compassion. Without all four, none of us can be our best selves. Calming the mind and body involves awareness about our reactivity to stress and proneness to compassion fatigue. We use breathing and other meditative techniques to emotionally move back to what CIT calls “the resilient zone,” where we can problem- solve and help others. Ethical mindfulness refers to awareness of our core values as a firm and as individuals. Life moves quickly, making it challenging to always live up to the things we believe. Ethical mindfulness teaches us to slow down, remain focused, and reflect on our values. It helps us maintain our integrity and continue to grow as people. Emotional awareness trains us to recognize our emotions in real time — not necessarily an easy feat! Understanding your feelings can help you respond better to stressful situations and communicate more effectively. It’s a skill that helps us identify how to do more good than harm. Finally, self-compassion is about reminding yourself that you are enough and not holding yourself to unrealistic standards. When you recognize your own humanity, you can have a more positive attitude toward your mistakes and develop better responses in the future. We’ve watched self-cultivation improve our lives in many ways. But one of the most rewarding is how it provides us with the tools we need to be resources for our struggling clients. Being at our best allows us to give you our best continuously. Self-Cultivation Helps Us Serve You Better
C reamy C aramelized B anana O atmeal
Inspired by EatWithClarity.com
I ngredients
OATMEAL: •
BANANAS: •
1 cup rolled/old-fashioned oats 2 cups nondairy milk (or water)
1–2 tbsp refined coconut oil 2 tbsp maple syrup plus more for topping, if desired 2 bananas, sliced into thick disks
• • • •
•
1/2 tsp cinnamon Pinch of sea salt 1 tsp vanilla extract
•
D irections 1. In a pot over medium heat, add the oats and nondairy milk (or water) and bring to a boil. 2. Reduce heat to low, add cinnamon, sea salt, and vanilla and let simmer until thickened. 3. To a large sauté pan, add the coconut oil and maple syrup while the oatmeal is cooking. Once sizzling, add the sliced bananas. 4. Cook on each side for about 5 minutes or until golden brown. 5. When the oatmeal is done, top with the caramelized bananas and additional maple syrup if desired. Add cinnamon, crushed walnuts, pecans, or nut butter!
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211 Roswell St. NE Marietta, GA 30060 (866) 687-8561 www.allfamilylaw.com
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David’s Lessons From Scouting
A Cinematic Cure for Seasonal Depression Meet Attorney Daniele Johnson! The Rewards of Self-Cultivation Creamy Caramelized Banana Oatmeal
Brushing Up on Cruise Etiquette
A ll A board !
K now Y our C ruise E tiquette B efore S etting S ail
KNOW WHAT TO WEAR. Some cruise lines aim for a fancy atmosphere, while others prefer a casual approach. Ideally, review the dress policy before you book your trip. Bring at least one formal outfit in your luggage for dinner, which tends to have an upscale vibe. The rest of your cruise wear should be casual but tasteful, leaving you looking put together. Most importantly, don’t overpack — the stateroom is smaller than you think. DON’T BE A CHAIR HOG. Everyone wants a prime spot on the sundeck, but you’ve got to rise early in the morning to get one. That’s fine if you can manage it, but “saving” a seat by putting a towel on it and then wandering away for breakfast or a mani-pedi is the best way to get on your fellow travelers’ bad side. Your cruise may also have a policy against it. Going to the bathroom is one thing; you’re only human. Otherwise, if you want the seat, stay in it. BE ON TIME. Treat your cruise ship like an airplane — if you’re not on time, it’s probably leaving without you. And if you are lucky enough to have the ocean liner wait, your fellow passengers won’t look at you kindly. Set your watch to ship time (not local time) and prepare to be back an hour before the deadline. That way, if you happen to be late, you’ll still be on time. You may miss out on an extra drink or souvenir shop, but nothing will ruin your cruise faster than being left behind at the dock.
After a slump in 2020 and 2021, cruises are back in a big way. If you’re planning your first onboard adventure — or it’s been a while since you last set sail — now is the time to brush up on your cruise ship etiquette. Every passenger should read their cruise line’s policies to ensure they know all the specifics before climbing aboard. In the meantime, we’ve listed some of the most essential do’s and don’ts for the savvy traveler.
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