Trial Magazine
Question of the Month
What Hobby or Activity Keeps You Centered Outside of Work?
December 2018“I volunteer as an umpire for youth baseball. Going to the field after work, smelling freshly cut grass on a summer’s night, interacting with the coaches and parents, and watching exuberant kids play the great game of baseball is a peaceful escape for me. For two hours, calling balls and strikes takes my mind off work and away from the stress of a law practice.”
Richard Shallcross, Richard A. Shallcross & Associates, Tulsa, OK
“I knit to relax and de-stress because I can watch the project emerge. It is a tangible, real thing that I can see!”
Carol A. Shelly, Shelly Law Offices, Doylestown, PA
“The hobbies that keep me centered are tending to my chickens and my garden and playing “World of Warcraft,” a massively multi-player online game, with my husband.”
Deborah L. Mains, Costello & Mains, Mount Laurel, NJ
“I run. More specifically, I train competitively for marathons. I don’t win, but I do pretty well for my age and ability. When I’m out by myself in the quiet of the early morning, I find peace. Sometimes I get my best inspiration and solve those thorny legal issues when I’m gliding along the roads in the dark.”
Tom Stilwell, Stilwell Law Firm, Houston, TX
“Brazilian jiujitsu practice has brought me immeasurable joy and centered awareness. Challenging my body and mind while combining concentration, alert relaxation, and fluidity feels like moving meditation or a flow state. It forces me to unhook my brain from work for short periods several times a week.”
Amber M. Pang Parra, Justinian & Associates, San Antonio, TX
“Magic has been my hobby and passion since childhood. My law office is decorated with antique magic posters and apparatus. I study sleight of hand with cards and attend magicians’ conventions several times a year. I perform for friends and on special occasions—including two Obama Presidential Inaugural Balls. It’s a perfect escape from the often-stressful practice of law, and it enhances my abilities to connect with jurors and to try cases in a more engaging manner.”
Kenneth M. Trombly, Trombly & Singer, Washington, D.C.
“For me, it’s solo travel to places off the beaten path with my backpack, camera gear, and a journal, but no means of electronic communication. When I can’t do that, I fly: fly fish or fly airplanes.”
Chris Gilbert, The Gilbert Law Firm, Centennial, CO
“I play the five-string banjo in a bluegrass band. I have been playing banjo for more than 50 years, and it continues to bring me joy and inspire my creativity. ”
Mark C. Schultz, Schultz Law, Conshohocken, PA
