Eversole Law Firm - Fall 2020

Eversole Law Firm - Fall 2020

Eversole Quarterly

Whatever Dream You Have You Can Find Your Way

Fall 2020

Have you ever had an idea that someone told you was impossible, and you persevered anyway only to prove them wrong? For me, the answer is “yes.” When I was 17 years old, my father died of a sudden heart attack at the young age of 42. Not long after that I ended up getting married, worked as a secretary to put my ex through college, had a child, and then divorced when she was just three. Faced with having to support myself and my daughter alone, I needed a job. By dialing a wrong telephone number from a want ad in the newspaper, I wound up getting an interview with the local Public Defender in West Palm Beach. I was hired on the spot as a courier/copy person, which later turned into a secretarial position. I was juggling work, trying to be a good single parent, and finishing up my undergrad education. Then, I decided to go to law school.

Luckily, thanks to student loans and a two-and-a-half-year law degree program, I didn’t have to work but my life was still incredibly difficult. During those years I commuted every day fromWest Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale, often with the lyrics of the song “Break My Stride” running through my mind: “Ain’t nothin’ gonna break-a my stride/ Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no/ I got to keep on movin’” giving me the determination to keep on going when it got really tough. After I graduated from Nova Southeastern Shepard Broad School of Law, I went back to work for the Public Defender, now as an associate attorney. I made it. It was a huge accomplishment for me, but what’s more, my family had a different view of my abilities to be self-sufficient. It all came full-circle when I was finally sworn in by the Florida Supreme Court with my family right there with me, now supporting my ambitions and letting me know my dad would be proud of me. It’s a moment that I will never forget. It was scary to venture off on my own without my family’s approval. But, each one of us has the choice to cave to the nay-sayers or persevere toward our dreams in our own way. It takes that first step and a commitment to yourself in spite of what anyone else has to say about it. If you have a dream or are teetering on the edge of a life- changing choice, know it probably won’t be easy, but you can do it. You can find your way too.

So, I started my journey to becoming an attorney. I entered into law school and paid for everything myself while living as a single parent.

There were quite a few reasons why I made this choice, but a big one was to honor my father. Before he died, he would routinely tell me I should be a lawyer because I liked to argue. But years later when I told my family my plans to stop working and go to law school, my mother, aunt, and uncle were not supportive. They, nor my ex, offered to help with the expense and they let me know they thought I needed to stay employed because I had a child to raise. It really hurt, but I persevered anyway, secretly in my mind telling them, “just watch me.” So, my journey into the courtroom began.

-Alysoun Eversole

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3 Great Apps to Maintain Your Mental Health at Home

MoodMission (MoodMission.com) If you’re struggling with mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, you may feel like this free, evidence-based app was designed just for you. MoodMission asks you a series of questions to assess how you’re feeling, then suggests a series of “missions” you can complete to help you get into a better state of mind. Missions are short, achievable tasks, like taking a walk around the block or cleaning up a room in your home. Of course, like all the apps listed here, it is not a replacement for professional mental health care, but it offers evidence-based exercises and a level of support that’s not often found in smartphone apps. Talkspace (Talkspace.com) While this app contains a number of mental health tools, its primary purpose is to connect you quickly with one of the company’s thousands of licensed and experienced therapists you can message on a regular basis. Unlike traditional therapy where you schedule an appointment and meet in person, Talkspace allows its user to communicate with their therapist through the app’s encrypted messaging system. It also allows you to request a check-in from your therapist and provides a place for them to upload your therapy notes. Talkspace is more costly than some other apps, but depending on your specific needs, it may be worth it.

When you lead a busy lifestyle, mental health often takes a back seat to other pressing matters. Thankfully, there are a number

of easy-to-use apps to help address this concern. Even if

you’re pressed for time, these apps can help you maintain your mental health. And if you’re just looking for some simple resources to guide you through mood-boosting exercises, they’ve got you covered there too.

Moodfit (GetMoodfit.com) Think of this app as a fitness tracker for your mind. The mood tracker allows you to record your moods and thoughts and follow trends and changes over time. You can look at these trends yourself or set the app to monitor specific areas of your mood. This highly customizable app is packed with tools and resources to help you with your mental health.

In addition to the mood tracker, Moodfit offers a range of breathing exercises and a guide to mindfulness meditation.

Thoughts About Voting

truth or not, to persuade you to join their bandwagons.

Politics can be an emotional topic these days, even more so than years gone by. Our United States doesn’t feel so united given the stark ideological gap between the two major political parties. The good thing, though, is the gap is much more visible than in past elections, which gives “we the people” a clearer choice about how we want our country to be governed for the next four years. Our job as voters is, or ought to be, to stay factually informed about the issues, to evaluate the policies held by each candidate, and then vote for the ones whose policies serve our expectations for the future. But, being fully informed is not so easy given today’s tabloid media frenzies. Pundits in many news outlets focus subjectively on untoward personality traits or accusations of racist behavior rather than the issues that affect each one of us day to day. What is most important in our daily lives? I venture to say for most folks it is the ability to live happily by the fruits of our labor. A sound economy matters. The media bombards us with hateful rhetoric and knee-jerk reactions meant to inflame public sentiments rather than report facts following a full investigation—like in the Nicholas Sandman case. The same is true with politicians. Many media outlets pick who they want to win or lose, and will say anything,

Maybe now is the time to change

that. Track records matter. Setting aside personality traits that

you may or may not like, what are the actual accomplishments of each candidate and which are in line with your concerns for the future? Is either fallacious to get your vote? Is there a straight shooter among them? Is paying more taxes good for you? Is doing away with school choice good for you? Will defunding the police make you safer? Is more government control of your life in your best interest? I could go on and on. The bottom line is that we are at a crucial fork in the road between two incompatible ideologies: Socialism versus capitalism. How will your vote affect the future of this country? Your factual knowledge of the issues really does matter.

-Alysoun Eversole

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‘Live LikeThere’s No Tomorrow’ The fall is known for many things: colder weather, changing of the leaves, Halloween, pumpkin spice lattes, and a sense that the year is coming to a close. As daylight grows shorter and shorter, it’s not uncommon for people to be more aware of how much they can accomplish in a day, especially if they work outside or participate in sports after the workday has ended. For me, I prefer daylight

because I can ride my horses; so, shorter daylight hours mean I must prioritize and change my routine from season to season. On the flip side, longer night-time hours allow me to accomplish things indoors that I otherwise let slide from time to time, like cooking hearty meals and reading good books. We have 365 days each year to decide what we will do with each one of those days. There is quite a lot we can accomplish in 24 hours (less of course the eight hours of sleep needed to stay active and healthy). Every moment is a choice.

LEARNING

Classic Pumpkin Soup

LEGALESE

Ingredients

Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com

Fallacious Statements Intended to deceive.

• • • • •

2 tbsp honey 1/4 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg

• 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 shallots, diced • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 2 1/4 cups pumpkin purée (homemade or canned) • 2 cups vegetable broth • 1 cup canned light coconut milk

Directions

2. Transfer the soup to a blender and purée. Pour the blended soup back into the pan. 3. Cook over medium-low heat for 5–10

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, shallots, and garlic for 2–3 minutes. 1. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer.

minutes. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired, then serve!

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Eversole Law Firm, P.C. 1509 King Street Beaufort, SC 29902 (843) 379-3333 www.eversolelaw.com

Disclaimer: The content of this publication has been prepared by Eversole Law Firm, P.C. for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with its readers and may not be used by you, the reader, as legal advice. You are encouraged to consult with us or another attorney about your circumstances to which the information in this document may apply.

What’s Inside

1. Working to Accomplish my Goal 2. The Best Mental Health Apps You Can Use FromHome Stopped at a Crucial Fork in the Road 3. ‘Live Like There’s No Tomorrow’ Classic Pumpkin Soup 4. The Weird Things Celebs Tried to Trademark Catchphrase!

6 Things Celebrities Tried to Trademark — and Some Who Succeeded

‘Rock Star From Mars’ Back in 2011, actor Charlie Sheen had a very public meltdown. During the episode, he rambled off countless phrases such as “Duh, winning,” “tiger blood,” and “rock star from Mars.” In the end, he tried to trademark a total of 22 phrases, but all were rejected by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ‘You’re fired!’ Donald Trump is known for many things, including emblazoning his name on everything he owns. Long before he was president and while host of “The Apprentice,” he filed a trademark on the show’s catchphrase. It was denied because it was too close to a preexisting (and trademarked) board game called You’re Hired. ‘BAM!’ TV chef Emeril Lagasse was a pioneer in the world of cooking shows. He popularized cooking on TV and captivated audiences by exclaiming one simple phrase every time he added an ingredient to whatever he was making: “BAM!” Naturally, he trademarked his signature phrase, but he doesn’t discourage people from using it as long as they keep it in the kitchen.

Celebrities love to trademark all sorts of things for one simple reason: People associate certain words with the celebrity’s brand, and the celebrity wants to protect that. It makes sense from a business perspective, but sometimes, it can get a little silly. Read on to see what the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office gave its blessing to and which trademarks it outright refused to create. Blue Ivy Carter Just days before their first daughter was born in 2012, Beyoncé and Jay-Z filed for a trademark on her name. The problem was that a wedding planning company called Blue Ivy was already using the name. Plus, Jay-Z mentioned to the media that their intention was to prevent others from using it. The trademark was denied. Kylie This generic trademark was filed by Kylie Jenner (of the Kardashians and Jenners). Her intention was to use her trademarked name for marketing purposes. The trademark was denied, and Jenner even ended up in a brief legal battle with singer Kylie Minogue. ‘Let’s get ready to rumble!’ One of the most well-known catchphrases of all time was successfully trademarked in 1992 by its creator, boxing announcer Michael Buffer. Even better, it’s made Buffer a very wealthy man. To date, he has made nearly $500 million dollars by licensing the trademark.

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