Hamilton Insurance Group - Q3 2021

Hamilton Insurance Group - Q3 2021

THE SILVER LINING To Your Life & Health

770-744-1855

CELEBRATING MY ANCESTORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS COUNTRY

And My Wedding Anniversary on the Fourth of July

When I think of what many

I believe this because my ancestors broke their backs and gave their lives to build this country. African American slaves are responsible for building the layout of Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital. The wealth of the South was at one time built on the cotton industry, and even though slaves picked that cotton, they didn’t see any of the economic benefit. So, when I celebrate the Fourth of July, I celebrate how my ancestors contributed to making the United States what it is today, rather than what the Founding Fathers did. All that holding true, I do have a lot of fond memories of the Fourth of July from when I was growing up. I remember having bottle rocket wars at my cousin’s house outside of Chattanooga (one of which almost took out my eye). But in truth, the Fourth of July weekend I remember the most is July 4–6, 2002 — the weekend I got married. A lot of that weekend is honestly a blur to me, but I remember the open bar at the reception being pretty popular. People were just strolling about with entire bottles of champagne dangling from their fingers! However, the best memory I have of that weekend is the day I actually got married. With that in mind, the future of the Fourth of July for me will hopefully include a lot of traveling with my wife. Since the kids are old enough now

people traditionally celebrate on the Fourth of July, I can’t help but see those celebrations as a part of our past and present day — but I hope they’re not a part of our future, at least in part. Let me explain what I mean by that. Many people see the Fourth of July as a celebration of the anniversary of our nation’s freedom from the tyranny of Great Britain. And yet, at the exact same time that the Founding Fathers were advocating for America’s independence, they owned slaves. On one hand, they understood the value of freedom. They saw how important it was for each individual to have rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. On the other hand, they actively withheld that freedom from other people. I think part of observing Independence Day has to be acknowledging that part of our country’s history. Sadly, even today I’ve seen places in our nation where people believe they should receive certain freedoms and liberties, while other people shouldn’t. Our country’s history continues to haunt us. However, when I celebrate the Fourth of July, I will still hold that we live in the best country in the world.

that they could live on their own for a few days without me and their mom to take care of them, we’re hoping for more opportunities to get out of town. Our dream vacation would be to show up at the airport with no luggage and no itinerary, pick an outgoing flight at random, and just go where the wind takes us. If that’s not one of the best ways to celebrate freedom for the Fourth of July, then I don’t know what is!

–Duane Hamilton 1 770-744-1855

Get Your Train of Thought Back on Track

Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation, presentation, or debate, stringing together thoughts in a way you hope is coherent and insightful when — poof! — you lose your train of thought? It’s frustrating. You just want to make yourself understood, but your brain has other plans. What if there were a way to keep your train of thought on track? Well, the good news is that recovering your train of thought is easy with the following hacks in mind. Repeat, repeat, repeat yourself. Paraphrasing your last few thoughts out loud can help you remember where you were going. Think of it as retracing your steps: You go back to the last words you remember saying, and more often than not, you’ll find your direction again.

not sitting in traffic during that time will do for your stress levels. Walkable neighborhoods incentivize residents and visitors alike to take a stroll rather than get behind the wheel. You’ll be more environmentally friendly. You’ve no doubt heard the laments of environmentalists over automobile pollution for years (or even decades). As it turns out, the best way to use your car less is to park it somewhere where you don’t need to use it all the time — where everything you need is within walking distance. Burning one gallon of gasoline creates 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, but walking leads to zero emissions. You’ll support the local economy. When you’re walking down the street, you’re more incentivized to stop, check out new local stores you’ve never visited before. If you end up buying Take a short pause. Pausing briefly is a great way to make recovering your train of thought seem natural. This hack works really well if you’re answering a question and you need time to think, and you also don’t want to be bogged down by a chorus of “ums” escaping from your mouth. Write it all down. This hack works well when you know beforehand that you’ll be speaking with someone or in front of people. Even if you never refer to your notes while speaking, simply writing down a road map for your train of thought can help you recover from a detour and speak more confidently. Remember your overall point. The easiest way to drive your train of thought into the weeds is to

something, you’ll have stimulated the local economy in a way that wouldn’t have been possible if you had been driving. Plus, when businesses in walkable neighborhoods are successful, it leads to more businesses opening in the same area, giving visitors and residents more options for shopping. According to Walkscore.com, which measures the walkability of different cities given a range of criteria, the Georgia State University, Peachtree Center and Buckhead Village neighborhoods are the most walkable neighborhoods in Atlanta. If you haven’t spent a lot of time in those neighborhoods, try visiting them at some point to experience some of the benefits of a walkable neighborhood for yourself! forget your overall point — or not to have an overriding point at all. Always have a short, overarching point you can use to recenter yourself and get back on track. With these hacks, your brain will have to work a lot harder to make you lose your train of thought! Now you’ll be more prepared to tackle any subject matter, no matter how deep or technical, that comes your way.

The Benefits of Walkable Neighborhoods

More and more, when homebuyers and renters alike look for a new place to live, “walkability” is a factor that pops up toward the top of their wish list. Walkability is, put simply, the degree to which a person can reach stores, restaurants, entertainment, and public transportation hubs by walking. While you might find that the aesthetic of a vibrant, walkable neighborhood with tons of local businesses and character draws you in, there are actually a myriad of tangible benefits to enjoying and living in walkable neighborhoods. You’ll be healthier. You don’t need a gym membership to keep yourself in good shape. There are plenty of health benefits from simply walking more often, including a reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, and obesity, and that’s before even touching on what

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lucky to last over 90 years, but what’s remarkable about The Varsity is that since its inception, it’s also grown to cover two entire city blocks! Visitors and locals alike The Larger-Than-Life, Record-Holding Locations of A-Town

E verything ’ s B igger in … A tlanta ?

When a city holds a world record in something, it can be a point of pride for everyone who lives there. As it turns out, Atlanta has a number of record-holding locations that might surprise you! In case you’ve never heard of or visited

swear by The Varsity as a must-stop location, especially if you’re looking for a huge, chili- filled burger or hot dog to chow down on. The Busiest Airport (in the World!) While not the biggest by area,

any of these locations, here’s a heads-up on the biggest and busiest places Atlanta has to offer. The Largest Hindu Temple (Outside of India) The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Atlanta may be the largest temple of its kind outside of the birthplace of Hinduism, but it did have its birth there. The temple was built out of stones that were hand-carved in India and shipped to the United States to be constructed like a giant Lego set. It has five pinnacles (the tallest of which reaches 75 feet), 86 decorated ceilings, 116 archways, and 340 columns. The Largest Drive-Thru Restaurant

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport sees more passengers pass through its corridors each year than almost any other airport. Why is that the case? Well, Atlanta is just a three- hour flight from many of the country’s largest and most influential cities, not to mention being pretty big and influential itself! And while not everyone likes spending loads of time at the airport, you have to admit that having the biggest one in the world lets the world know that Atlanta is a city worth recognizing.

Open since 1928, The Varsity has a long history as a place to grab a quick bite to eat. Any business would be extremely

C ongratulations F redrick A llen H amilton !

On May 25, 2021, my oldest child and only son, Fredrick Allen Hamilton, graduated from

Henry Grady High School. Fred graduated with a 4.1 GPA and numerous honors. He will be attending Howard University in the fall, majoring in biology pre-med. He received an academic scholarship as well as a track scholarship. Fred is one of the fastest hurdlers in the state of Georgia and ranked in the top 50 nationally. None of this could have happened without your support. Thank you for supporting Hamilton Insurance Group. I could not do it without all of you.

A federal program reimburses funeral costs if loved ones die of COVID-19 or complications! FEMA reimburses up to $9,000 per death. For those who lost multiple individuals, assistance is limited to a maximum of $35,500 per application per state. Applicants can call 800-462-7585 or 844-684-6333. Lines are staffed 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern, Monday– Friday. No online applications will be accepted.

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What I Celebrate on the Fourth of July Life Hack: How to Recover Your Train of Thought Why You Should Love Walkable Neighborhoods Everything’s Bigger in … Atlanta? Congratulations Fredrick Allen Hamilton! Save Money and Improve Your Diet by Growing Sprouts at Home

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You’ve probably crunched down on a mouthful of bean sprouts in a sandwich or stir-fry, but those delicate white stalks are just one part of the massive, super-healthy sprout family. Almost any seed, bean, nut, or grain can be sprouted, including black beans, broccoli, sunflower seeds, and quinoa! Sprouts offer tons of health benefits, including essential vitamins and minerals, digestion-easing fiber, and age-fighting antioxidants. Sprouts will level up your diet, but they can be expensive and come in non-recyclable plastic containers. To get the benefits without the hit to the wallet or the planet, grow your own with this handy five-step guide. • Decide how many types of sprouts you’d like to grow. Then buy your seeds at a local garden center or online at TrueLeafMarket.com or SproutPeople.org. • Purchase a seed-sprouting jar kit OR a corresponding number of quart-sized glass canning jars, wide-mouthed canning rings, and stainless-steel sprouting screens (these will replace the metal jar lids). If you have jars and rings at home, use those and save another buck. WANT TO SAVE MONEY AND IMPROVE YOUR DIET?

• Add 3 tablespoons of sprouting seeds and 2 cups of water to the bottom of each clean jar. Screw on the lids and sprouting screens, then swirl the seeds, pour out the water, and replace it another 2–4 cups of water. Leave the jars on the counter to soak overnight. (These measurements may vary from seed to seed. Check your seed packaging or ask your local gardening store for guidance.) • In the morning, dump out the water and repeat Step 3. Then, place each jar upside down or at an angle (in a bowl or on a stand) and leave it there to fully drain. Toss your sprouts and start over if they start to smell rancid or turn brown. • Repeat Step 4 several times a day for 3–5 days, until your seeds sprout. Then, dry the sprouts and store them in the fridge. When it’s time to eat your homegrown sprouts, be careful! Seeds can be contaminated with bacteria, so The Cleveland Clinic recommends boiling, roasting, or steaming your sprouts, just in case. To learn more about growing your own sprouts, pick up “The Sprout Book,” “The Sprouting Book,” or “Homegrown Sprouts” at your local library.

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