Law Office Daniel J Miller - January 2020

Law Office Daniel J Miller - January 2020

INYOUR DEFENSE

JANUARY 2020

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Major Life Changes

REQUIRE MAJOR MOTIVATIONS

Times of transition are great opportunities for us to reinvent ourselves. Whether it’s a transition from one year to the next, or from one stage of life into another, nothing spurs personal change and growth like the eminence of a new chapter in our stories. I typically make New Year’s resolutions, but, when I think about the times I really succeeded at reinventing myself, they all coincide with major life transitions.

wore earrings, and I partied like a rock star. So, before going to law school, I got a haircut, took out the earrings, and stopped partying. I became a completely different person. Twenty-three years later, I don’t regret that decision. I love my job and the opportunities it has afforded me to help people from all walks of life. Recently, I went through another major transition in my life that spurred on a completely different change: weight loss. So, last year on New Year’s, I made the resolution. It’s a resolution a lot of people have made with varying degrees of success. The fact that the new year coincided with this other major life transition made it easier to keep my resolution. So, over the course of the past year, I lost around 20 pounds, and I’ve managed to keep it off. Just like my transition from rock star to law student all those years ago, losing weight changed my entire lifestyle. Not only is my fridge devoid of any processed foods (much to the disappointment of my kids), but I also feel a lot better.

“before going to law school, I got a haircut, took out the earrings, and stopped partying. I became a completely different person.”

I read a lot of health and wellness articles, some about the brain and addiction. According to those articles, we can actually get addicted, physically and mentally, to bread, processed wheat, and other carbs. It takes some commitment to stay away from carbs, but, after forgoing them for a while, you stop craving them. Once I stopped craving some of those processed foods, I felt a million times better — and I saw evidence of this in both my physical health, my mental health, and my overall demeanor. Many times, our goals push us to change our lifestyles and personalities, which makes it hard to follow through. However, if our motivation to change is strong enough, we’ll come out on the other side better than we ever thought possible. – Daniel J. Miller

The first time I remember reinventing myself was over 23 years ago. For seven years after I graduated from college, I was a drummer in a traveling rock band. Before I started that stage of my life, I had told myself if I wasn’t happy with the rock star life, or it wasn’t panning out as I wanted it to after seven years, then I would change gears and go to law school. Seven years came and went. I’d had a lot of good times with the band, traveling and doing shows, but, when the time finally came for me to reevaluate, I decided it was time to move on to the next part of my life. But I didn’t just stop playing in a band — I completely changed everything about myself. I had hair down to the middle of my back, I

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New Year’s Eve ushered in not only a new year but also a new decade. Even though the beginning of every new year comes with some excitement, once the celebration is over, those winter months tend to feel empty. With that in mind, here are a few community events going on in Virginia Beach this January you can mark off on your calendars! WHAT’S HAPPENING IN VIRGINIA BEACH IN JANUARY K icking O ff a N ew Y ear and a N ew D ecade

On Oct. 12, 2019, one man did what distance runners the world over thought was impossible. Eliud Kipchoge, an eight-time major marathon winner and three-time Olympic medalist, became the first person in the world to run a sub-two-hour marathon. That means running 26 miles at 4 1/2 minutes per mile! Though Kipchoge’s marathon last year pushed the boundaries of athletic achievements, a few key elements made his sub-two-hour time possible — and disqualified his marathon from world-record consideration. THE COURSE Kipchoge ran the marathon on a course in Vienna that was mostly a straight line with some gradual turns at each end. It was also completely flat and at sea level, where oxygen levels are higher. That said, Kipchoge’s marathon course broke regulations because it was an exhibition run staged just for him to try and break the two-hour barrier. Apart from his pacers, he was the only runner. He also did not have to stop at any water stations — cyclists rode alongside him to periodically hand him water so he wouldn’t have to slow down. THE PACERS In a regulation marathon, pacers can only run with marathon participants during the first part of the race. But in order to help HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEETHOVEN (250TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION) When: Jan. 12, 3–4:30 p.m. Where: The Virginia Symphony Orchestra, 201 Market Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Ticket Price: $25–$110 As we all know, 250 is a big birthday that deserves to be celebrated in style. And when it’s Beethoven’s 250th birthday, you know the celebration will include performances of his incredible music. Don’t miss out on a chance to celebrate one of the greatest composers of all time with a concert performed by the VSO. Pre-concert activities will begin in the lobby at 2 p.m. 2020 VIRGINIA FLOWER AND GARDEN EXPO When: Jan. 24–25, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Jan. 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 Ticket Price: $10 At a time when much of the country is still blanketed in snow, we in Virginia Beach look forward to spring, inspired by what our front HOW ELIUD KIPCHOGE RAN A SUB-TWO-HOUR MARATHON T he L ast F rontier of D istance R unning

yards and gardens could look like at the Virginia Flower and Garden Expo. Talk to landscaping and gardening experts, visit more than 100 vendors, and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses at this can’t- miss event.

2020 COASTAL VIRGINIA WINE EXPO When: Jan. 25, 12–6 p.m.; Jan. 26, 12–5 p.m. Where: Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 Ticket Price: $25–$55 If you’ve been a part of so much gardening talk that you’re starting to see green, hop over to the Coastal Virginia Wine Expo and unwind. Among the choice wines, drinks, and specialty foods, there will also be live entertainment and a grape stomping competition. This is an event with fun for everyone, true connoisseurs and wine-tasting novices alike.

Kipchoge secure his desired time, different groups of pacers phased in and out of the marathon, running with Kipchoge the whole way. The pacers’ formation also protected Kipchoge from wind resistance and helped him conserve energy. THE SHOES Kipchoge’s shoes had a carbon-plated midsole, which is thought to make runners more energy efficient. And while it’s not certain just how much the specialized shoes affected his time, it does raise important questions about “technological doping,” a term used when certain sportswear or instruments give athletes an unfair advantage in competitions. Even though Kipchoge’s marathon in Vienna might not qualify as a world record, his exhibition race is still a groundbreaking athletic achievement. His performance shows that, even if it hasn’t been officially done yet, a sub-two-hour marathon on a regulation course might not be too far down the road.

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H elping H ampton R oads L ocals M ove U p in the W orld

THE MANY INCREDIBLE PROGRAMS OF THE UP CENTER

While specialization leading to success is laudable, one organization in Norfolk has taken it upon themselves to be a helping hand for struggling children and families in a number of difficult situations. Since its founding 135 years ago, the Up Center in Norfolk has done its part to mitigate some of the biggest problems facing the Hampton Roads community. Back when the Up Center began, it was the Norfolk United Charities. Their mission was to do everything they could to alleviate homelessness and poverty in the area. They operated an orphanage, gave out coal to families so they could heat their homes, and distributed shoes to children so they could walk to school. Along with the name change, the Up Center has changed the way they help meet the needs of the community, but they haven’t lost sight of their mission: to protect children and empower people in crisis. Some of the Up Center’s most recent accomplishments include finding loving foster and adoptive homes for 120 children, pairing 200 at-risk youths with mentors, helping 400 families facing foreclosure to keep their homes, and distributing 18 tons of food to over 2000 people — and that’s just in the past year. Considering the

extremely diverse group of people the Up Center helps, it’s incredible they make such a noticeable impact on all those they help.

If you’re passionate about some of the mission areas of the Up Center, you can either donate to specific projects or programs, or you can give an unrestricted donation. Unrestricted donations will go to the programs that need it the most, but donations of any kind are very appreciated. Any donation will help people all over Hampton Roads continue to move up in the world.

HOWTOMAKE SAUERKRAUT

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lbs cabbage • 4 tsp fine sea salt

EQUIPMENT

• Jar • Lid with airlock

• Something to weigh down cabbage, ideally made of a

nonreactive material like glass

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Remove outer leaves from cabbage. Slice very thinly. 2. In a large bowl, combine cabbage and salt. Let stand for 20 minutes. 3. Squeeze cabbage to release juices. Let the cabbage continue to soak and release juices for another 20 minutes. 4. Transfer to a jar and press down cabbage until completely submerged in its juices. Weigh down cabbage. 5. Seal jar with airlock. Let cabbage sit at room temperature and away from sunlight for one month. Once fermented, transfer to the fridge. Sauerkraut will keep for six months to one year. Inspired by NourishedKitchen.com

The Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller supporting An Achievable Dream, Inc.

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What’s Motivating Your New Year’s Resolutions? PAGE 1 Virginia Beach Community Events this Month The Last Frontier of Distance Running PAGE 2 The Up Center’s Impact in Hampton Roads How to Make Your Own Sauerkraut PAGE 3 Do You Know the History of the Straw? PAGE 4 INSIDETHIS ISSUE

THEHISTORYOF THEDRINKINGSTRAW HOWASUCKY INVENTIONCHANGEDTHEWORLD

People don’t often wonder about everyday objects, like the seemingly inconsequential drinking straw, but National Drinking Straw Day falls on Jan. 3 and gives people a chance to scrutinize the growing concern over straws’ contributions to global pollution. THE STRAW’S ORIGIN While the drinking straw has been around for centuries — dating back nearly 5,000 years to ancient Sumerian times — it wasn’t until 1888 that the first drinking straw was patented. Marvin C. Stone, a manufacturer of paper cigarette holders, created a prototype straw by wrapping strips of paper around a pencil, gluing them together, and removing the pencil to create a hollow cylinder from which people could drink. THE STRAW’S INDUSTRIAL BOOM By 1890, Stone Industrial was producing Stone’s paper straw in massive quantities, surpassing the production of cigarette holders. Stone’s straws were effective for

glasses or containers that were difficult to drink from, and as a bonus, they didn’t leave any gritty residue like previous prototypes. Their popularity grew, especially among children and hospital patients who found it challenging to drink directly from a glass. Straws became even more accessible in the 1930s when they were manufactured with the ability to bend. THE STRAW’S CONSEQUENCE It wasn’t long until the rapidly growing plastic industry saw an opportunity. Not only were plastic straws more durable than their paper counterparts, but they were cheaper to make. Unsurprisingly, the mass production of plastic straws starting in the 1960s contributed to worsening pollution. Today, the National Park Service estimates that Americans use nearly 500 million straws every day. Most of these straws are then discarded, joining millions of tons of plastic materials that wash up across the world’s beaches.

To help reduce the amount of plastic in use, people are taking action. Several cities across the U.S., including Seattle, have banned plastic straws in bars and restaurants. Many alternatives have also taken to the market, such as metal or silicone straws that can be used more than once. If you want to help contribute to alternative solutions, most local grocery stores, as well as big manufacturers like Amazon, sell metal or biodegradable straws for less than $10.

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