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THE SILVER LINING To Your Life & Health
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TRIUMPH OVER FEAR My Path to Public Speaking Confidence
Public speaking is one of the most daunting activities many of us participate in. While there’s no inherent danger involved, we still worry about embarrassing ourselves and causing damage to our pride. I have struggled with public speaking throughout my entire life, but it wasn’t until recently that I truly refined my skills and felt comfortable talking in front of large groups. My public speaking difficulties started when I was young. My mom had a Christmas party one year and asked me to bless the food, but I completely shut down when I started to talk. I couldn’t even get a word out! I had to bless the food in front of my mom’s friends, people I looked up to, and I knew they knew how to give the blessing better than I could. It was just too overwhelming for me. Over time, my aversion to public speaking became a significant obstacle, and I really wanted to improve it. I took a public speaking class in college and even went as far as joining Toastmasters. The group is dedicated to helping professionals improve their public speaking skills, but once again, speaking in front of others every other week was too overwhelming. So I dropped out of Toastmasters.
It wasn’t until I joined the insurance industry around 2009 that I felt I was improving my public speaking skills. At the time, I was working for American Income Life, going to people’s homes to speak with them. In most cases, I talked to the entire family, not just the individual interested in the insurance. It was difficult at first, but I was motivated by my son. He would have been 6 or 7 years old then, and I remember thinking to myself that I couldn’t tell him to man up when I couldn’t do it myself. I was being a hypocrite and had to change my ways. From that point on, I became much more comfortable speaking in front of families, but speaking behind a podium was a different story. The past few years have helped me hone my public speaking skills. This past December, my grandfather passed away at 92 years old. That man meant so much to me. Before he passed, I had a conversation with my dad about improving my public speaking skills so I could speak eloquently from the heart at my grandfather’s funeral. To make a long story short, I fought through the nerves and spoke at his funeral. It was the best speech I had ever given. I’m sure people could tell I was uncomfortable, but I still said everything I wanted to say.
Another experience that helped me grow my skill was speaking at Medicare information seminars during the past year. We held four seminars at Red Lobster and had 25 people attend each time to learn more about Medicare. I was uncomfortable before the first presentation, but once I got in the room with everyone, all my anxiety faded away. I knew what I was talking about, so I knew I could properly teach the room. The more presentations I gave, the better I did. While I’m no public speaking expert, I can share the tips that helped me improve my skills. First, learn everything you can about the subject you’re speaking about, as this will help boost your confidence. Also, don’t be afraid to turn to the internet for help. I watched YouTube videos before giving my Medicare seminars to help with the format of my speech. You don’t have to re-create the wheel with your speech!
Public speaking can be anxiety- inducing, but with the proper
preparation, anyone can knock any speech out of the park!
–Duane Hamilton
1 770-744-1855
Your Family May Not Be Up to the Task! Choose the Right Sitter for Your Pet
When your children were young, you wouldn’t trust their care to any old babysitter, would you? Of course not! Now, your pets are no different. When you head out for a summer vacation, they deserve to be cared for by someone who will pamper and protect them the same You may be tempted to ask your sibling, friend, or child to watch your pet. This can be a great solution because you trust them, and they’ve bonded with your furry friend already. But have you considered a professional? Some situations may call for a little more. Use these questions to help you decide: way you would. The only problem is, who? Friends and Family vs. Professionals • Will your friend or family member be able to visit your home regularly or stay there temporarily while you’re gone to avoid disrupting your pet’s routine? • Does your pet have a disability or need to take medication that would be better handled by a professional? • Does your friend or family member know how to stay cool and react calmly in case of a veterinary emergency?
If your loved one is pressed for time or easily stressed, or your pet has medical needs, you may be better off
working with a professional. How to Find the Right Pro
When choosing a professional pet sitter, don’t start with the flier on the stop sign pole down the street (it was probably put up by a 10-year-old). Instead, call your pet’s vet, groomer, and/or trainer and ask if they can recommend a nearby pet sitter. You can also ask friends and family who are conscientious pet owners. Then, thoroughly check the sitter’s credentials and experience. Look for signs that they’re serious about their work, like certifications, insurance, and background check information, and set up an interview and meet-and-greet with your pet. If you can’t find a sitter through your network, consider online groups like the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, Care.com, Pet Sitters International, Rover, or TrustedHousesitters, and use the same vetting strategy. For more help choosing a great sitter, visit HumaneSociety.org/resources .
You’re Never Too Old to Learn Something New
As we reach retirement age and step back from our full-time jobs, many of us look for new ways to fill our time. Some participate in hobbies like tennis or golf more often, while others are content to sit on their back porches and enjoy the nature around them. However, many have a hard time shaking the urge to continue learning about things that interest them. We’ve learned about new things throughout our whole lives; we can’t be expected to stop just because we have reached a certain age. Thankfully, there are many ways to continue learning well into retirement. Here are a few ideas. Read books and watch documentaries. This is probably the most obvious way to continue your learning journey, as many of us have read books throughout our lives, but it’s still worth mentioning. Books are available on almost every subject you could imagine, and you don’t even have to go to a bookstore or library to grab a new book. Thanks to tablets and e-readers, you can pull up any book and start reading at a moment’s notice. Also, don’t be
afraid to check out new documentaries. You probably won’t find them in your local theater, but streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Max are full of them. Attend workshops, seminars, and college classes. Now that you have some additional free time, try attending classes or seminars that have always interested you. In Georgia, residents 62 and older can sign up for courses at any college or university in the state system and attend without paying tuition. That’s a pretty sweet deal! Look through the courses offered at the nearest college and enroll in any that interest you. There are also plenty of workshops and seminars offered by other organizations in the community that may appeal to you. Visit a museum. There’s nothing better than taking a walk through history, and that’s exactly what you can do when visiting a museum. Whether you like nature, art, history, college football, or science, there’s a museum in the Atlanta area that will appeal to you.
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Purchasing a car can be a complicated process, and you want to make sure you do it right. You’re likely spending thousands of dollars, especially in today’s car market, so you want to ensure the vehicle you’re buying will last a long time and work for your needs. Not everyone knows what to look for or which questions to ask when purchasing a used vehicle. New cars are more straightforward, as they don’t come with any excess baggage. Used cars are a completely different story. Before you even start to look at used vehicles, you have to determine what type of vehicle you want and decide on a maximum price you’re willing to pay. After figuring this out, you can start looking online or at local used car lots for your ideal vehicle. The best option is a certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle. These are often lease-return cars with low mileage that someone only drove for a few years. They typically come with warranties, and all of the maintenance is up to date. CPO vehicles have become rarer over the past M aster the A rt of B uying a U sed C ar
few years, and when you do find one, expect to pay a little more than your average used vehicle. If you’re not going with a CPO vehicle, there are questions you should ask the seller before purchasing. Find out how many owners the car has had and if they have service or maintenance records. Make sure it has a clean title. Ask whether the car still has its owner’s manual, spare tire, jacking tools, and floor mats. You should also learn whether there is a customer satisfaction window and how long it lasts. After asking these questions, it’s time to inspect the car. Look for rust on the exterior of the car and oil stains underneath. Do not buy before taking the car on a test drive. Make sure it drives how you expect it to on the freeway and through city streets. Test out the blinkers, radio, and everything else electronic in the car. Listen for any strange sounds and pay attention to abnormal odors. If possible, get the vehicle inspected by an independent mechanic to find anything you might have missed. Buying a car can be a stressful situation. By knowing what to look for and preparing the proper
questions, you will feel much more confident purchasing a used car.
T omato G nocchi K ebabs
We are doing something new ... to update you on your 2024 plan benefits, we will be conducting virtual benefit reviews. Be on the lookout for emails and texts for the times and dates for your plan review. If you don’t have access to join virtually you can also dial in. Be on the lookout. I mportant M essage for M edicare C lients
Inspired by Delish.com
These quick, healthy kebabs are perfect for your next barbecue!
INGREDIENTS • 1/4 cup fresh parsley • 1/4 cup fresh basil • 1/4 cup and 2
• 2 tsp capers • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice • 1 clove garlic • Kosher salt • 1 12-oz package fresh gnocchi
• 2 pints cherry tomatoes • 2 small red onions, cut into 2-inch pieces • Freshly ground black pepper
tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
DIRECTIONS 1. In a food processor, combine parsley, basil, 1/4 cup oil, capers, lemon juice, and garlic to make salsa verde. Blend until smooth, season to taste with salt, and chill until ready to serve. 2. If using bamboo skewers, soak in water to prevent scorching. 3. In a large bowl, toss gnocchi, tomatoes, onions, and remaining oil until coated. Season with salt and pepper, then thread gnocchi, tomatoes, and onions onto the skewers. 4. On a grill preheated to medium-high, cook the kebabs, flipping halfway through, until the tomatoes are blistered and the gnocchi is browned (7–8 minutes). 5. Transfer kebabs to a platter, drizzle with salsa verde, and serve.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Duane’s Path to Public Speaking Success
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Find a Trustworthy Pet Sitter
How to Keep Learning During Retirement
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Your Roadmap to Finding the Ideal Used Vehicle Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs
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Keep Those Pesky Pests Away!
Summer Tips for Insect-Free Fun! DON’T LET THE BUGS BITE
August is the last full month of summer, which means bugs are at their pesky peak. If you and your family love to get outside in the summertime, protecting your family from bug bites is about more than their itchy aftermath. Bugs can carry many diseases that put you, your family, and your pets at risk. For example, mosquitoes and ticks can transmit the West Nile virus, while ticks can spread Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and much more — including causing alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), which is a life- threatening allergic reaction. So, if you and your family find yourselves outside this summer, here are some tips to keep those creepy-crawlies at bay.
The type of repellent isn’t as important as whether it contains one of these main ingredients: • Lemon-eucalyptus oil • Citronella oil (combined with thyme for ticks) • Picaridin • Diethyltoluamide (DEET) Get rid of any standing water near your house. Mosquitoes use stagnant water to lay their eggs, so any filled buckets, partially filled kiddie pools, broken fountains, or even discarded toys that have collected water can all attract mosquitoes to your yard. Routinely check your yard and dump out any water you find. Lastly, be sure to thoroughly check for bugs on both your family and your pets before ever setting foot inside!
Cover up! One of the most straightforward ways to ensure no one gets bitten by a bug is to cover any exposed skin when outside. If you can, wear long-sleeved shirts, full-length pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes, especially when hiking or camping. And if you can, tuck your pants into your socks or shoes to prohibit anything from crawling up your legs. Choose your outdoor time wisely. Mosquitoes are most active in the early morning and late evening, so avoid going outside during dawn or dusk if possible. Use insect repellents. One of the most effective ways to keep bugs from biting is to use some form of bug repellent. Today, many people opt for non-spray repellent alternatives like repellent patches, wristbands, or clip-ons, many of which work great.
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