Livingston Dental - May 2020

Livingston Dental - May 2020

800 South Washington St., Afton, WY 83110 (307) 885-4337 | www.drlivingstondds.com

May 2020

Life With Livingston Dental

e G e n

Thoughts Lead to Actions, Actions Lead to Habits

Guiding Principles for Turbulent Times

There’s something Mark Twain said that rings true to me: “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you understand why.” I’ve thought about these words a lot, and I feel fortunate that I’ve found my purpose in life. If you haven’t gotten to that place yet, ask yourself what brings you peace and happiness? In times like these, maybe you have an opportunity to home in on what matters to you and makes you feel like you’re living as the best version of yourself. Find your purpose in life — the bright light that will guide you through even the most turbulent times. Let it be the foundation for your values. When life does slow down a bit, reflect, pause, and take a moment to consider what’s important. As fast as the troublesome times are that we are facing, they will end. In the meantime, remember that while there’s a lot that is out of your control right now, you do get to choose which thoughts to give credence to that will become the framework for your destiny.

When you sow a character, you reap a destiny.

Like the foundation of a home, the foundation for your life is made up of thoughts, actions, and habits that create your character and, ultimately, your destiny. It’s important to respond to what’s going on around you and take measures to protect your health and wellness without letting thoughts of “what could be” overwhelm you. If we can remain calm, even in the face of the unknown, we have empowered ourselves toward actions that will be in our best interest. As we navigate this season, let’s make every moment count. Let’s seek happiness and try to be happy in the moment. Happiness is not a destination; it’s something that can always be found in whatever you are doing. I believe we need to search our soul to find out who we are and what brings us happiness. I find so much joy in my life by serving others. I recently got to catch up with an old patient I hadn’t talked to in years. She moved to Washington, and though years had passed, it was as if nothing had changed during our call. It’s a joy to connect with others.

The state of the world has changed since we last talked. We’re in uncharted waters here, and we’re all trying to figure out how to navigate our ships in the quickly changing weather. As a person with poor hearing but good eyesight, I learn a lot from observing the way people behave. Recently, I’ve seen many people trying to cope with what’s going on and figure out how to continue living their lives amid all the uncertainty. Something that gets me through times like these is remembering that my thoughts are mine to create and listen to, or not. This mindset comes from a set of principles I’ve come to live by:

When you sow a thought, you reap an action.

To your health, happiness, and well-being,

When you sow an action, you reap a habit.

When you sow a habit, you reap a character.

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Stay Connected With These Helpful Resources Maintaining Health While Homebound

Due to the growing concerns about COVID-19, getting the resources you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle is more challenging. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) request for social distancing makes it harder to get food and maintain social norms. So, to help maintain your well-being in these uncertain times, here are a few resources that will make getting food and keeping tabs on your family a breeze. FOOD DELIVERY Because COVID-19 is easily transmitted, getting food at a grocery store is riskier. If you don’t prefer mobile apps like Postmates or Instacart, local food kitchens, municipalities, and senior centers may offer food delivery. Using a delivery service limits the number of people you interact with to the delivery person. For an added measure of safety, put a note on delivery instructions requesting they leave the bags at the door. If you have trusted family or friends nearby, reach out to them. They can pick up what you need when they’re already getting groceries, which is especially convenient if you don’t want to deal with mobile apps. Regardless of your method, you should become familiar with getting food delivered because you don’t know how long the situation will last.

SOCIAL MEDIA Utilizing social media is a great way to keep in contact with your loved ones. Facebook is very popular with older people — 1 out of 3 older adults already uses the platform because it’s easy to use. Facebook and other social media platforms can help you stay connected

with friends, family, and groups of people with similar interests to avoid feeling so isolated at home. You can also continue to share photos and videos so you don’t miss a day in your loved ones’ lives. Video chat apps like Skype, Zoom, and Apple FaceTime enable you to have those essential face-to-face conversations when you can’t be with other people. If you’re unfamiliar with the applications, they are easy to download for free on your phone or computer, and they allow you to see and verbally chat if you have a webcam and microphone. (If you use a phone or laptop, this equipment is already built-in.) A video chat app also lets you be a part of important life moments like birthdays and anniversaries if a shelter-in-place order prevents you from celebrating in person. Ensure you’re up to date on the best ways to keep you and your family safe during these uncertain times by visiting CDC.gov for more information.

The Story of Grandpa Mason When cats are orphaned as kittens, they don’t get the chance to develop all the skills needed to become successful cats. Just like human children, kittens need older role models too. The most famous cat role model had a rough start in life but became an inspiration for kittens and humans alike. His name was Grandpa Mason, and during the last years of his life, he stepped up and gave love, care, and guidance to the orphaned kittens that lived with him.

How a Feral Cat Came to Care for Orphaned Kittens

an interview with The Dodo, Roche described him as “an elderly gentleman [who] lived his whole life a certain way, and then, all of a sudden, [was] forced to live completely differently.” After Grandpa Mason grew accustomed to his home, Roche took in several foster kittens, and those new roommates completely altered Grandpa Mason’s behavior. Roche expected him to hiss, swat, or growl at the kittens when they invaded his space, but he didn’t. Instead, he allowed them to crawl all over him and appeared to enjoy it when they licked his ear. Suddenly a playful, affectionate, and gentle personality came out of Grandpa Mason as he played with, bathed, taught, and cared for the orphaned kittens that Roche welcomed into her home. Potentially due to the kittens’ influence, Grandpa Mason surpassed his prognosis by more than two years. During the last few years of his life, Grandpa Mason passed on important lessons and good manners to the kittens he looked after and adored, as a true grandfather should. He passed last September, but he spent his last night in his ultimate happy place: snuggling in his bed surrounded by kittens.

The Canadian animal rescue group TinyKittens rescued Grandpa Mason in 2016 from a property that was scheduled to be bulldozed. The poor feral tabby was suffering from many health problems, including severe dental issues, a badly injured paw, and advanced kidney disease. Since TinyKittens is a no-kill rescue organization, euthanization was out of the question. Given his health conditions, veterinarians predicted the battle- scarred Grandpa Mason didn’t have long to live, so TinyKittens’ founder, Shelly Roche, took him in and provided him with a comfortable place to sleep, plenty of food, and time to relax in the last months of his life. Grandpa Mason had a hard time adjusting to domestic life and would often shy away from being petted. In

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Healthy Habits You Can Start Today

Create a Routine that Keeps You Smiling

you are a fan of sugary candy, choose ones you aren’t sucking on throughout the day so you avoid adding that constant sugar to your smile. Drinking plenty of water is also part of a healthy smile. VISIT YOUR DENTIST TWICE A YEAR. See your dentist every six months and as needed. Set up your appointments in advance and stick to them! CUT BACK ON OR GIVE UP SMOKING. Giving up a smoking habit is a great step toward better oral health. It’s different for everyone. For some, quitting cold turkey works. For others, they might need the help of friends and family. Talk to us and talk to your doctor when you need support. We’ll remind you that this is a goal you want to stick to! Take control of your health by taking small, positive steps each day, and see the results in the way you look and, most importantly, the way you feel. Talk to your team at Livingston Dental when you’re looking for support. We’re here for you, and we have some tips to help you on your journey!

When life gets busy or stressful, it can be easy to let healthy habits fall by the wayside. We get it — it’s not easy to follow all the “rules” that magazines and websites tell us are the “secrets” to the perfect life. That’s why sometimes it helps to start small. In fact, many smaller habits, like flossing every day and choosing water over soda, add up over time to help us stay healthier, feel better, and benefit our smile. Here are a few habits to make a part of your day. FLOSS ONCE A DAY. Start small with the goal to floss daily. It’s two extra minutes in the morning or night. It can be before or after you brush, just as long as you floss once a day — once a day is the key.

BRUSH TWICE A DAY FOR 2 MINUTES. Once you’ve hit that goal, make sure you’re brushing two times a day for two minutes. It keeps your mouth clean and healthy and keeps bacteria at bay. CHOOSE SUGAR-FREE GUM. Reducing your sugar intake is part of a healthy diet. Find sugar-free gum, and if

Puzzle Time! Sticky and Sweet Pork ‘Ribs’ Ingredients Inspired by Bon Appétit

• 1/2 cup chili oil • 1/3 cup oyster sauce • 1/3 cup toasted sesame oil • 5 lbs boneless pork shoulder, flattened • 3/4 cup brown sugar • 1 tbsp molasses

• 2 heads garlic, cloves separated • 3 thumbs ginger, chopped • 1 cup hoisin sauce • 3/4 cup fish sauce • 2/3 cup honey • 2/3 cup rice wine

Directions

1. In a blender, purée garlic, ginger, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, honey, rice wine, chili oil, oyster sauce, and toasted sesame oil until smooth. 2. Reserve and chill 1 1/2 cups for later use. 3. In a bag, add the remaining mixture and pork shoulder. Marinate for at least 8 hours. 4. Using a convection plate on the grill, cook pork until the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 140–145 F. 5. In a large saucepan, simmer brown sugar, molasses, and reserved marinade for 6–8 minutes. 6. Baste the pork with the brown sugar glaze for 2 minutes before serving.

OUTDOORS POLLEN SUNSHINE TAURUS

MAYFLY MEMORIAL MEXICO MOTHERS

BUTTERFLY FLOWERS JEDI LADYBUG

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on being named Top Dentist of Wyoming 2018!

800 South Washington St., Afton, WY 83110 (307) 885-4337 | www.drlivingstondds.com

Inside Dr. Livingston’s Words to Live By

Stay Connected With These Helpful Resources The Best Grandfather a Kitten Could Have

Healthy Habits You Can Start Today Sticky and Sweet Pork ‘Ribs’

Wyoming: A State of Firsts

Wyoming: A State of Firsts

to think for long about the offer. “We will remain out of the Union 100 years rather than come in without the women,” was their response. Fortunately, everyone else came to their senses, and Wyoming joined the Union in 1890, with women retaining their rights. This September will mark 150 years since the historic moment when Swain cast her ballot. Many local museums are paying tribute to the event with special exhibits, interactive displays, and online resources geared toward sharing our state’s role in making women’s suffrage a national norm. Find more information, includign any closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on the Travel Wyoming site and at WomensVote100.org. You can also drive along the Wyoming Women’s Suffrage Pathway near South Pass City to experience the commemoration of the journey from that first ballot cast in 1870 to the state’s ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Wyoming takes the lead in many ways: expansive natural areas; stunning national and state parks, including the nation’s first national park, Yellowstone; gorgeous mountains; and many rivers, hot springs, and geysers. One of Wyoming’s firsts that isn’t quite as visible is our state’s championing of women’s suffrage. Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote, the first place a woman cast a ballot, and home to the first female governor. In 1869, Wyoming became the first state in the U.S. to pass a law guaranteeing unconditional voting rights and the right to hold office to women. In 1870, Louisa Swain became the first woman to cast an electoral ballot in an open election. Wyoming also holds claim to the first female jurors, the first female bailiffs, and the first town governed by women. When Wyoming was invited to join the Union on the condition that women’s suffrage be revoked, the Wyoming legislature didn’t have

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