Hamilton Insurance Group September 2018

THE SILVER LINING To Your Life & Health

770-744-1855

F ather T ime A lways W ins

But That Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Fight Back

Aging is difficult for many of us to accept. The older we grow, the more vulnerable we feel. But aging is all about how you interpret your life’s events and how you grow from them. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that I don’t have all the time in the world. While that might scare some, I find peace in that notion. Aging has taught me that time is the most valuable asset we all have. I could lose $100 right now and spend hours looking for it. I might get that $100 back, but I can never get back the time I spent looking for it. I find that the time available to us is significantly more important than any challenge or material struggle. As cliche as it might sound, I’ve committed to not sweating the small stuff, and that has comforted me as I age. I used to drive as fast as I could to get where I was going. I thought if I wasted any time in traffic, I might miss my window of opportunity. Now I take time to stop and smell the roses. I cruise to work and spend quality time with whoever is in the car with me. One day, it’s all going to be gone, so why would I rush to get everything over with? In my line of work, my finances can be unpredictable, and that used to worry me. Everything was about the money. I’d spend time getting

“ IF NO ONE MAKES IT OUT ALIVE, I’D RATHER INVEST IN PEOPLE THAN IN MY WALLET. energy I spent worrying took away the most valuable asset I could give to those I care about: love. It wasn’t until I started working in this career that I realized life had something more to offer. I see myself in most of my clients, which helps upset not knowing what kind of life I was going to be able to provide for my family, and then I realized that all the

–Duane Hamilton 1 770-744-1855 older, but no matter what, I will always understand that now is the time to live life to the fullest. develop mutual relationships that benefit us both. It became clear to me that the love you share with others is perhaps one of the most important blessings in life. No matter how disciplined I am or what I do with my health, Father Time will always win. If no one makes it out alive, I’d rather invest in people than in my wallet. My life is full of proud moments and joyous occasions now. I may be getting

What’s Not Covered? Sadly, Medicare will only cover certain services, which can exclude eye, dental, and hearing care. Routine eye exams and dentures aren’t covered by basic care. However, if you have an emergency, there’s a chance it can be covered. Know the Difference There are two types of basic Medicare — Part A and Part B. Part A can help cover nursing services, hospital stays, some health services, and hospice care. Part B coverage only provides coverage when you visit a doctor for a checkup or other outpatient services, such as a flu shot. Keep in mind that the above basic Medicare won’t cover prescription drugs. There are alternative plans available, such lives, these aren’t enough to fill up the bulk of your newly acquired free time. Cultivating a hobby is a great use of your time at any age, but especially during retirement. As Dick Van Dyke once said, “To me, retirement means doing what you have fun doing.” Here are three questions to help you discover a hobby that’s right for you. Do you have a dormant passion? Work has a tendency to put our other interests on the back burner. Maybe you painted for pleasure during college but put the canvas away to focus on your career. Perhaps you were once a chess fanatic, and today you find your board gathering dust from lack of use. Now is the perfect time to rediscover those once-beloved activities. What have you always wanted to do? Discovering new hobbies is just as rewarding as rekindling old ones. Have you ever heard about a pastime and thought, “I’d love

to do that, if only I had the time”? Former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe opened a winery after retiring from football. While you probably don’t have the financial resources of a professional athlete, there’s nothing stopping you from pursuing a newfound passion at the same velocity as the footballs Bledsoe threw. Is there a cause you want to support? Volunteer work can be incredibly fulfilling, especially when you have the time and energy to devote to it. Many older adults find that giving back to the community adds meaning and purpose to their lives. The best way to figure out how to donate your time is to think about a cause dear to your heart. From there, find a reputable organization that supports said cause, and see

A Guide to Picking a Post-Career Hobby

Aside from financial concerns, the No. 1 question that most impending and recent retirees struggle to answer is how they will fill up all their time. While spending time with family and relaxing are priorities for most folks entering the post-career chapter of their

what you can do to help. Retirement is the perfect

opportunity to throw yourself head-first into something you’re passionate about. So what are you waiting for?

Turning 65? 3 Factors to Keep in Mind for Medicare

Many people are confused by the steps they need to take to prepare for Medicare. Here are three important factors to consider before signing up. Signing Up on Time Turning 65 means you are eligible for Medicare, but it doesn’t mean you’ll get on it as soon as your birthday arrives. You can sign up any time from three months before your birthday month to three months after. For example, if your birthday is in August, you can sign up between May and November. If you sign up early, you can start receiving benefits on the first day of your birthday month. However, if you don’t enroll sometime in those seven months around your birthday, you’ll have to wait to sign up between Jan. 1 and Mar. 31 of the following year.

as Medicare Part D or a Part C plan, which can cover prescriptions. Before you make a decision, it’s crucial to research the best plan for you to receive the benefits you deserve.

2

Growing old is an uncontrollable part of life, but I genuinely believe how you approach that reality is within your control. I see a lot of people who try to fight aging, and even I fall into this trap occasionally. It’s a fight they always lose, and the subsequent emotional toll leaves them depressed or upset with life. But what happens if we embrace the reality that we’re growing old? “Dance like nobody’s watching” is about letting go of your stressors and committing to life’s free moments. Regardless of age, we all can see the D ance L ike N obody ’ s W atching Age Is Just a Number Please welcome JaNai Goldsborough to the Hamilton Insurance Group team. JaNai joins the team to increase our level of customer service, handle the back office, and provide an extra level of support to Duane Hamilton. JaNai has over 10 years of administrative, sales, and customer service experience. She honed her customer service skills while solving customer issues at Greyhound. Most recently, JaNai worked in sales and marketing at Comcast. While at Comcast, she received numerous awards for surpassing her sales goals. Please feel free to contact her to help you with your needs. WELCOME, JANAI!

dangers of letting burdens rule our lives. And you know what? Sometimes we just need to let loose and dance. It might be in your house, on a dance floor, or even at the park — it doesn’t matter. You don’t need a place to be free in your body. You just need the right attitude. When was the last time you let go? And I mean really just cut loose, forgot what the world expected of you,

and just danced? Some of you may read this and think to yourself, You know what, Duane? I’ve never done that. Well, what are you waiting for? Dancing has been proven in multiple studies to release endorphins that are directly related to happiness. You don’t have to be the next John Travolta from “Saturday Night Fever” to enjoy the benefits of dancing. You just need a willingness to let go and shake those hips!

B eans and G reens R igatoni

INGREDIENTS • 12 ounces

• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes • Juice of 1 lemon • Salt, for pasta water and to taste • 2 ounces fresh grated Parmigiano- Reggiano (optional)

rigatoni pasta • 1 bunch Tuscan kale, rinsed • 1 15-ounce can cannellini (white kidney) beans • 2 tablespoons extra- virgin olive oil

Inspired by Bon Appétit Magazine

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large stock pot, boil 6 quarts of liberally salted water. On another burner, heat a large skillet to medium-low. 2. Add pasta to boiling water and cook for 3 minutes less than the package recommends. 3. While pasta is cooking, add beans, red pepper, and oil

to skillet. Cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. 4. Add cooked pasta, kale, and 1 cup pasta water to skillet. Toss vigorously as kale cooks, about 4 minutes. 5. Transfer to bowls, top with a squeeze of lemon, sprinkle with cheese or salt, and serve.

3 770-744-1855

1170 Peachtree Street NE Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30309

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

770-744-1855

1 2

My Perspective on Age What Have You Always Wanted to Do? Prepare Yourself for Medicare Why You Should Dance Like Nobody’s Watching Welcome, JaNai! Beans and Greens Rigatoni Why Labor Day Is Indebted to the Pullman Strike

2

3

3 3 4

T he P ullman S trike and the O rigin of L abor D ay How a Railroad Protest Laid the Foundation for a National Holiday

until workers and Pullman community members managed to stop the trains from running. Eventually, President Grover Cleveland sent in soldiers to break up the strike. Violence ensued, with soldiers making a great effort to quell the strike at its core. By the time the violence ended, 30 people had lost their lives and an estimated $80 million in damages had been caused throughout the town. A few months later, President Grover Cleveland declared Labor Day a federal holiday. Many experts believe that this act was an effort to build rapport among his pro-labor constituents after handling the incident so poorly. This month, as you fire up the barbecue and enjoy your day off, take a moment to remember the workers who fought for labor rights in our country.

Today, Labor Day mostly means a day off and the closure of public pools. But when it was first created, it was a president’s desperate attempt to curb the tension after one of the most violent strike breakups in American history. In the late 19th century, the workers

owned buildings in turn. As a result, life became untenable in the town, with workers struggling to maintain the barest standards of living for themselves and their families. In response, the workers began a strike on May 11, 1894. As the event ramped up, it gained the support of the powerful American Railway Union (ARU). But Pullman, stubborn as he was, barely acknowledged the strike was happening, and he refused to meet with the organizers. The tension increased when Eugene Debs, the president of the American Railway Union, organized a boycott of all trains that included Pullman cars. The strike continued to escalate

of the Pullman Company, which manufactured luxury train cars, all lived in a company-owned town. George Pullman, the owner, lived in a mansion overlooking houses, apartments, and crammed-together barracks, all of which were rented by the thousands of workers needed for the operation. For some time, the town operated without a hitch, providing decent wages for the workers while netting the higher-ups millions of dollars. But after the economic depression of the 1890s brought the country to its knees, everything changed. George Pullman slashed his workers’ wages by nearly 30 percent, but he neglected to adjust the rent on the company-

4