Pitner Orthodontics - November 2019

THE STRAIGHT UP

November 2019

WaterWe Swim In The First Step of Gratitude

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”

or Instagram living their “perfect” lives, and we can’t help but think, “My life should be like that.” Nothing kills gratitude faster than thinking that things should be a certain way. I believe gratitude starts with expectations. When we expect our blessings to be there, we forget to be grateful for them.When something goes wrong and we get depressed by thinking about how our life shouldn’t be this way, we forget to look for ways to make our lives better. Expanding our focus and redefining expectations can help us find new blessings. Earlier this year, my husband and I took a trip to NewYork City.We walked all over Manhattan, roughly 12 miles in a single day. Though I had comfortable shoes on, they weren’t 12-mile- walk shoes. By the end of the day, my right foot started hurting and kept hurting for six months after that trip. I won’t go to the doctor if I can help it, so for the first three months, I told myself the pain would go away. After a while, I told myself that it wasn’t getting worse, so I was fine. Then I got mad that my foot was still hurting.

so maybe my body was trying to tell me something.

–Meister Eckhart

I started doing more yoga, did some research, and really thought about my feet, hips, and posture. I learned how our hips can impact the rest of the body. Suddenly, after taking in the whole picture and making some changes, my foot wasn’t hurting anymore. To my surprise, other parts of my body started to feel better, too. Developing this greater awareness helped me improve my overall health and recognize more blessings in my life. We don’t want pain or sadness in life, but rejecting those things with, “This isn’t how it should be,” doesn’t help us. I’m not saying we have to be grateful when bad things happen. It’s awful when bad things happen, and most bad things are worse than an aching foot. However, when these things do happen, the best thing we can do is look at the bigger picture. Step out of the water we swim in and look at all the parts. Is there something we can fix? Is there a blessing we’ve forgotten? Every day is a blessing and an opportunity. Let’s not waste them by telling ourselves life should be a certain way. Instead, let’s look at what life is and how it could be.

We are pretty darn blessed to be living in the 21st century. Almost everyone on Earth today enjoys a better quality of life than most people did in years past. Those of us who live in the United States are exceptionally lucky.While we certainly have our problems, we also have clean water, stable infrastructure, and other amazing programs dedicated to making life better for everyone.We are insanely, enormously blessed, but so often we forget about these blessings. Many of us, myself included, get to the point where we expect the world to be a certain way.We expect things to go our way all the time, and when they don’t, we get angry about it. Americans are called ungrateful, but I don’t think that’s the full truth.We are aware of our blessings, but it’s the water we swim in.We’re so accustomed to the good life that we can’t imagine a world without these blessings. Truthfully, things could be a lot worse; no one owes us anything. This might sound pessimistic, but I see it as something truly amazing. If no one owes us anything, then every day is a blessing. That’s easy to forget when your alarm goes off and you have to get out of bed, get the kids to school, go to work, make dinner, and fill your days with “have-to’s.”Then we throw in social media, seeing everyone on Facebook

“My foot is not supposed to hurt like this!” I insisted. “My foot shouldn’t hurt all the time.”

There I was, thinking about how things “should” be, a mindset that wasn’t making my foot better and was only making me more unhappy. Finally, I decided to adjust my expectations and accept my situation. My foot was hurting,

–Dr. Leslie Pitner

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Smile big. Smile often. • 803-781-5225

What ‘LadyandtheTramp’ CanTeachYourKids

With Disney+ launching this November, you'll get

about seeing what's out there and testing your limits. Without Tramp’s ambition to explore, Lady would never have discovered her love of spaghetti or the joy of running carefree through the city. Celebrate your differences. This film celebrates differences and encourages viewers to do the same. Tramp rouses hen houses and avoids dog catchers. Lady was pampered with a fancy dog collar and cushy places to sleep. Despite coming from different ends of the dog park, they find a shared love for adventure and, of course, Italian cuisine. Embrace change. Early on in the movie, Lady's comfortable life slips away from her as Jim and Darling Dear welcome their new baby into the

household. Jim starts to refer to Lady as "That Dog" shortly after

the baby's arrival. After getting lost and meeting Tramp, she gains a new life partner and creates a family of her own, showing children that, while change can be a daunting thing to face, it's often for the best and comes with a silver lining. These are only a few of the lessons highlighted in this Disney classic. Gather the whole family for a fun night in and see what other lessons you can learn.

access to tons of great classics as well as new original

series and movies, like the live-action "Lady and the Tramp" remake. While Disney fans are excited about this, the original film is still perfect for the whole family and has some great life lessons for your kids. Here are some of the best takeaways. Explore the world around you. "There is a great big hunk of world down there with no fence around it.”

This underrated quote, said by Tramp, perfectly encompasses one of the main lessons of the film: explore! Life is all The original film was such a cult classic, but the remake is sure to deliver. It's expected to release on Nov. 12, 2019, so mark your calendars. FROM THE OFFICE OF BUSTER

Buster’s Gratitude List

5. All of our patients. Going to the office means getting to see all of our patients. I love to say hello, get pets, and meet new patients who come in. It means so much that you all trust my mom to straighten your teeth! It’s so much fun to see how excited patients are when they see their new smile. It makes me want to wag my tail! 6. My toothbrush. To be honest, I’m only half-thankful for my toothbrush. I don’t love it when my mom brushes my teeth, but I know it helps me stay healthy so I can keep playing and enjoying all my favorite treats!

7. Cheese. This is one of my very favorite snacks. I can’t have too much of it, but a little piece of cheese makes my whole day.

G’DAY, MATE!

Thanksgiving is coming up, so this month I want to share all the things I’m thankful for. It’s a pretty long list! 1. My mom and dad. This is probably an obvious one, but I love my family! They help me live my best doggy life every day. 2. Long walks. There’s nothing more fun than taking a walk around my neighborhood with my mom and checking out all the great outside smells. 3. Naps. After a long walk, it’s nice to be able to sleep for a while in the nice, warm house. 4. Being an office dog. I always have so much fun visiting the office! There are lots of great smells, and I’m able to help everyone feel more relaxed and happy.

There are so many things in life to be thankful for.

Every day gives the opportunity to take a walk, play with a squeaky toy, or meet a new friend. I hope you have lots to

be thankful for this year too.

And remember: I love you sooo much!

–Buster

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Too Busy to Work Out? 5 Simple Ways to Stay Active

Being active doesn’t have to mean going to the gym every single day. An active lifestyle can be as simple as going for a walk around the neighborhood for a few minutes a day. There are plenty of ways to exercise during daily activities like shopping, spending time with your kids, or hanging around the house. Park farther away. A lot of people will spend several minutes trying to find a parking space as close as they can to the entrance of a store. However, parking a little farther away will help you score a better parking space and make sure you get your steps in for the day. Do some yoga. You don’t have to push yourself to your absolute limit in order to stay active. There are other, gentler ways to exercise than running 5 miles a day. Tai chi or

yoga are excellent low-impact alternatives to keep your body fit and healthy.

Reduce TV time. It can be tempting to plop down in front of the television after a long day at work or after dinner, but you can also use this time to be active. Get the family together for a walk around the neighborhood, take a few minutes to dance to some of your favorite tunes, or do some light cleaning around the house. Put a spin on date night. Forget dinner and a movie. Instead, try taking your date out for a round of miniature golf, indoor rock climbing, an evening stroll, a bike ride, or dancing. You’ll have more fun while doing your body good.

Grab a leash. Having a dog gives you plenty of opportunities to stay active. If you don’t have a dog, try asking a neighbor or friend if they would like their dog walked, start a dog-walking service, or volunteer at a local animal shelter. There are plenty of ways to make staying active a part of your daily routine! With enough creativity and motivation, you can turn any activity into an active one.

Green Beans With Ginger and Garlic Turkey is, for the most part, a healthy and lean protein. Thanksgiving sides, on the other hand, tend to be a little more indulgent. This year, eschew the classic, creamy green bean casserole in favor of this lighter, healthier, and altogether tastier option.

INGREDIENTS

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2 lbs whole green beans, ends trimmed 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

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1/2 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp crushed red pepper

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Kosher salt, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. To the side of the stove, prepare a large bucket of ice water. 2. Cook beans in boiling water for 4 minutes. Immediately transfer to ice water. Drain and pat dry. 3. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and

cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Stir in ground ginger and crushed pepper. Add green beans. 4. Cook together for 2–3 minutes. 5. Transfer to plate and serve.

Inspired by Food &Wine Magazine

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Smile big. Smile often. • 803-781-5225

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

5953 Wescott Rd. Columbia, SC 29212 803-781-5225 Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.drpitner.com

INSIDE

1.

The Trouble with Expectations

2.

Life Lessons From ‘Lady and the Tramp’

What’s Buster Thankful For?

3.

Simple Ways to Stay Active

Green Beans With Ginger and Garlic

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Local Events

Celebrate Home What Makes Columbia One of a Kind? SCOyster Festival Where: Robert Mills House andGardens, Columbia When: Saturday, Nov. 16; 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission: $6 preorder; $10 at festival Website: SCOysterFest.com There’s more than one way to eat an oyster, and you can try themall at the 23rdSCOyster Festival! Eat your fill of steamed oysters, fried oysters, oyster shooters, and oyster gumbo before washing it down with an ice-cold beer or a drink from the wine garden.There will also be non-oyster food available to purchase, as well as livemusic, arts and craft vendors, and kid-friendly games. Children 16 and under get in free, so bring the whole family out for a day of fun!

Vista Lights Where: TheVista, Columbia When: Thursday, Nov. 21; 5–10 p.m. Admission: Free Website: VistaColumbia.com/special-events/ vista-lights InColumbia, the holiday season starts atVista Lights. More than 60 galleries, shops, and restaurants open their doors for the community to discover holiday treasures and seasonal dishes. Get into the holiday spirit with an evening of music, live performances, and a grand tree lighting ceremony. For more than 30 years,Vista Lights has beenColumbia’s favorite holiday tradition.

ColumbiaMuseumofArt, Columbia Where: ColumbiaMuseumofArt, Columbia

When: Saturday, Nov. 23; 7–11 p.m. Admission: $60/person; $110/couple Website: TimeForArtColumbia.com

Celebrate theMidlands at this special black-tie gala! Enjoy live entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, and an open bar while supporting local nonprofits during the silent audition. But feel free to leave your wallet at home; volunteer hours are currency during this special event. In 2018, 1,679 volunteer hours were bid during theTime forArtGala— the equivalent of $41,454 invested back into the community. Dress in your best and come support art, nonprofit, and business communities in the Midlands.

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