Healthy Living March 2017

WELCOMES

David Bowers, MD

Diplomate, American Board of Urology

(On the medical staff at The Villages® Regional Hospital)

David Bowers, MD, a board-certified urologist, specializes in the treatment of all aspects of general urology, including kidney stones, benign diseases of the prostate, urinary incontinence and impotence. Additionally, Dr. Bowers is trained to treat urinary tract cancers using both open and robotic surgical techniques. He will also provide emergency services and inpatient care for The Villages® Regional Hospital (TVRH).

Located in Building 1800

1501 US Highway 441 N. Suite 1832

The Villages, FL 32159

Office: (352) 751-8649

Fax: (352) 728-7810

Dr. Bowers earned his medical degree at the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel, completed his internship at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, NY and his residency at Columbia Presbyterian University Medical Center in New York City, NY.

Dr. Will Barsoum joined the team at Cardiovascular Associates in January 2017. To say he is thrilled about this exciting opportunity would be an understatement.

“The practice has developed an excellent reputation because the doctors are ethical, knowledgeable, and caring,” he said. “I share their vision of delivering quality cardiovascular care to the wonderful residents of Lake County.”

Dr. Barsoum attended medical school at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada and completed a residency and two fellowships at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. He brings a unique skill set to Cardiovascular Associates and is experienced in treating peripheral vascular disease and pulmonary embolism.

“For me, it’s a major milestone whenever I can improve a patient’s quality of life and increase their longevity.”

He previously practiced in Lake County for more than two years before moving to Orlando.

“I’m happy to be returning to the area. This is where I want to raise my family. We have the best of both worlds. There is plenty of nature, but you don’t have to look far for shopping and entertainment.”

Your partners for life

MY KNEE IS A-OK THANKS TO AOI.

For all of our advanced technologies and leading edge breakthroughs in joint repair and replacement, the advancements we at AOI are most proud of are those that our patients make in reclaiming their quality of life. If you are experiencing pain or weakness in a knee, shoulder, or hip and feel it’s time to do something about it, there’s no time like right now. Come see us, we’re here for you.

John T. Williams Jr. Orthopedic Surgeon

Alfred J. Cook Jr. Orthopedic Surgeon

The Art of Looking as Young as You Feel

Introducing Michael E. Burton, MD Cosmetic Surgery of the Body, Breasts and Face

In the hands of a highly-skilled surgeon, the enhancement of the human form becomes part medicine, part art.

While training with world-renowned leaders in the field of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Burton also pursued a degree in fine arts, with advanced courses in figure drawing, painting, and sculpture.

As an international volunteer with Operation Smile, his skill and commitment to compassionate care led him to help children with cleft lip and palate deformities lead better lives.

Now, he’s bringing his skills to our offices in The Villages® to help you look as young as you feel.

Vaginal dryness putting

A lot of people are drawn to the coastal look because it is a style that relaxes us. What does water make you feel? What do the green palm trees make you feel? It makes you feel like you’re on vacation and a place to unwind. A lot of people want a tropical style when they move here, and they feel that they need to relinquish every piece of furniture they brought from Missouri, Ohio, or wherever they are from, and that is not necessarily true! Certainly the best option is to incorporate what they have. Obviously not every piece is going to work, like a plaid, wool sofa that you’ve had for 20 or 30 years—that is not necessary to move it to Florida!

However, it is not so much the style of furniture as it is the texture of the fabric. We just redid the living room of a customer from Chicago. She has always been used to fabric furniture that will keep you warm, and it was all I could do to convince her to go to leather, something that is cool to the touch, and that was a big transformation for her. She loves it now and we were able to add texture with pillows and throws. You can reupholster your current furniture with coastal prints or like colors. You can still keep that Queen Victorian chair or bed, and change the fabric of the headboard or bring in a fig leaf/palm tree in your bedroom, and it’s OK to

incorporate both—you just have to have a balance.

A lot of people from the Midwest come into my shop and say, “I would love to have this in my house,” and I say, “Why don’t you? What does it matter if you live in the middle of the country and you want a coastal feel?”

My store is filled with a lot of natural and sustainable textures. My home is filled with a bevy of design styles, but if you keep the visual in the same mood, then you have succeeded. It can be a different style of furniture, but throw a palm tree pillow on the chair, change the fabric of the chair to a softer, coastal feel. And if you love it, you can make it work! I provide a free

consultation for design guidance in Lake and surrounding counties.

Visit my retail shop, located in downtown Mount Dora on the corner of 5th and Donnelly Street. My sales associates and I look forward to meeting you.

How to blend your current furniture with a coastal look…

We built four pools in the past, and this one was by far the best. We had no problems like we have in the past. The people at Wiseman Pools are completely

— NESHA SALSER, OCALA

CONTENTS

March 2017

IN A CLASS OF HER OWN

You can safely say that Andrea Vineyard is an ace in the classroom. A special education teacher at Tavares High School, she was recently named as Lake County’s 2015-16 Teacher of the Year. Her passion, dedication, and commitment to teaching resulted in numerous student

HEALTHYBODY

FOWL PLAY

58 Chicken marinated in balsamicmustard sauce is something to cluck about.

THE SKINNY ON WEIGHT LOSS

60 Because of underlying health conditions, your odds of losing weight may be slim.

SIT DOWN AND LISTEN

62 Chair yoga can improve your health.

HEALTHYMIND

FOR SURVIVORS, THERE’S LIFE AFTER DEATH

64 You can overcome challenges following the loss of a loved one.

A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS

66 Depression among Americans is becoming more commonplace.

34 // IT’S TIME TO GET SCHOOLED

There are many challenges and issues gripping public schools in Lake County and nationwide. This month, Healthy Living delved into some of them, including Common Core, recess, healthcare education requirements, and fighting and bullying.

HEALTHYSPIRIT

FIND A HAPPY MEDIUM

72 Be joyful, cheerful, and content. That’s the spirit!

MAKE NO MISTAKE:

74 Learning from life’s blunders helps achieve personal growth.

HEALTHYFINANCE

BUCK AN EXPENSIVE HABIT

78 No-spend days are becoming the gold standard.

TRY “CHECKS AND BALANCES.”

80 Golden rules for healthy personal finances.

DIGITIZE YOUR LIFE.

GET YOURS. SHOW

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EDITORIAL // DESIGN // PHOTOGRAPHY

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A “LESSON” IN EDUCATION

Every now and then, I enjoy reflecting on my school days.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

FRED HILTON, JAIMIE ALONSO, GARY MCKECHNIE, BRIDGET WEBBER, ROZ ANDREWS, LEANN ZOTIS, KIRI HATHAWAY, SHYLEY MCFARLAND, RICHARD T. BOSSHARDT M.D., DEBBI KIDDY

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Eating lunch in the cafeteria while laughing with classmates. Playing games like kickball and dodge ball outside on school property. Passing a love letter to my first crush. Shopping for new clothes before the first day of school. Getting up in front of the class for show and tell.

Those memories always hold a special place in my heart.

Of course, much has changed in the school system since I attended Leesburg High School in the ’90s.

Back then, recess was a standard part of school. Today, school administrators and teachers are debating whether recess is beneficial for students.

Back then, teachers had freedom to be creative in their classrooms and make learning fun. Today, teachers are more restricted, thanks to Common Core, which forces them to teach toward a series of standardized tests.

Back then, bullying certainly existed but not on such a large scale. Today, bullying isn’t limited to a face-to-face encounter on school property. It also occurs on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. I’m thankful social media did not exist when I was a growing up.

The recess debate, Common Core, and bullying are three of the most controversial issues school administrators deal with on a daily basis. This month, Healthy Living is delving into those topics and finding out how local principals, teachers, and parents are handling them.

MIKE STEGALL advertising executive mike@akersmediagroup.com

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Speaking of education, we’re also recognizing one of Lake County’s brightest stars in the classroom. Andrea Vineyard, who teaches special needs students at Tavares High School, was named the 2015-2016 Lake County Teacher of the Year. Thanks to her passion, commitment, and dedication, her students continue to reach their full potential inside and outside the classroom.

On a final note, March is one of the most beautiful and weatherfriendly months in Florida. I encourage you to get outside and take advantage of our scenic hiking trails and our picturesque city and county parks. In addition, be sure to attend some of the county’s extraordinary events occurring during the next two months. They include Pig on the Pond in Clermont (March 10-12), the Sunnyland Antique and Classic Boat Festival in Tavares (March 18-19), and the Leesburg Bikefest (April 28-30).

See you next month!

Kendra Akers

Q: Name the American track and field star who trains at the National Training Center in Clermont and won a gold medal in the 100-meter dash in 2004. Please make an educated guess before looking at the answer.

FHW TAKES THE STAGE

Florida Hospital Waterman (FHW) received the Stage 7 Award from Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics, a nationwide system used to track electronic medical records progress at hospitals and health systems. The hospital was recognized during the annual HIMSS conference last month in Orlando.

FHW was only the second Adventist Health System hospital in Florida to achieve this designation. In fact, less than 5 percent of hospitals nationwide reached Stage 7. According to HIMSS Analytics, Stage 7 hospitals “have a very real competitive and quality advantage, as they support the true sharing, information exchange, and immediate delivery of patient data to improve process performance, quality of care, and patient safety.”

NEW YEAR, SAME YOU?

It has been two months since you set out to achieve those lofty New Year’s resolutions. How are you doing? Don’t be discouraged if you’ve had a few missteps or even became sidetracked. You’re not alone.

8 the percentage of people who are successful in achieving their resolutions

49 the percentage of people who enjoy infrequent success

24 the percentage of people who fail on their resolutions each year

Source: www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/

DID YOU KNOW?

We Care of Lake County coordinates free specialty medical care for uninsured adults living in Lake County who meet certain financial guidelines. However, the organization also has a special program called “We Care We Share” that allows local residents to make donations of medical equipment to others who are in need. That includes wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, bedside commodes, and shower chairs.

During the 20142015 fiscal year, the organization received 929 items valued at $95,176.

A: Justin Gatlin. Gatlin, a former track star at the University of Tennessee, won a bronze medal in the same event in the 2012 Olympics and a silver medal in the 2016 Olympics.

FAST FACT:

Relay for Life began in 1985. Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, spent 24 hours walking and running around a track at the University of Puget Sound. He completed 83 miles and raised $27,000.

Source: cancer.org

REV UP STRATEGIES TO AVOID AUTO THEFT

More than 1 million vehicles are stolen in the United States each year, according to statistics from the FBI Uniform Crime Report. According to Lauri Quinn Loewenberg, author of “Dream on It: Unlock Your Dreams, Change Your Life,” dreaming of losing your car or having it stolen ranks in the top five stress dreams.

•Always make sure your vehicle is locked whether it is in a parking lot or in your driveway.

•Try to park near the front of businesses where your car is clearly visible from inside.

•Consider using a steering column locking device and/or an alarm system. These items could potentially deter an offender from stealing your vehicle.

•Make sure car windows are always rolled up completely.

•If you happen to be shopping at night, park in well-lit areas.

•Do not hide a second set of keys in your car.

•When your vehicle is running, never leave it unattended.

STEPS TOWARD A CURE

This month kicks off Relay for Life, an 18hour event held in communities throughout the country. Participants take turns walking around a track throughout the night to raise money to fund cancer research and create awareness about this deadly disease. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.

This year’s Relay for Life events in Lake and Sumter counties are as follows:

Lady Lake: March 25 at the Rolling Acres Sports Complex

Sumter County: April 8 at the Sumter County Fairgrounds

Leesburg: April 15 at Leesburg High School

South Lake: April 28 at East Ridge High School.

Golden Triangle: May 6 at the Lake County Fairgrounds.

For more information, please call 352.350.2273.

Healthy Inspiration

PUTTING THE METTLE TO THE PEDAL

WRITER: GARY MCKECHNIE

When Mike Ratrie, 62, and his wife Lucia, 56, agreed on an ambitious ride across the United States, making decisions became the norm. In the four-month, 5,885-mile journey, there were hundreds of decisions. Before they left—how to train, where to train, what to pack, what to sleep in, and what to sleep on. On the road—when to start, what to eat, where to eat, how far to ride, and how fast to ride.

Mike rode recumbent bikes and then tricycles due to lower back problems. When they met in 2011, Lucia loved cycling, but was sure she’d never ride a trike.

However, an automobile accident changed everything. Bicycling was on hold during several months of convalescence. After recovery, Lucia

looked at trikes differently, and she and Mike began planning a cross-country ride on ICE (Inspired Cycle Engineering) trikes fit for their frames. They added a philanthropic element by raising money for the McLindon Family Foundation, which provides adaptive bikes to special needs children.

For months they created computer spreadsheets detailing distances and elevations. Because Mike has Type 1 diabetes, they set end points near pharmacies. As a failsafe, they prepackaged boxes of Mike’s diabetic supplies that were shipped by a friend from Mount Dora in care of general delivery along the route.

The planning paid off. Aside from a day in Fairplay, Colorado, when altitude sickness affected Mike, it was

smooth cycling from the Pacific Coast to Yorktown, Virginia, on the Atlantic, and then home.

During the ride, they met cyclists from across America and around the world. It was a welcome aspect of the ride that Mike says formed an immediate bond and “absolutely enhanced the whole trip.”

Before embarking on their epic journey, they pedaled to Mount Dora’s Trimble Park for weekend camping trips to test their trikes, their tent, and their gear. With that, they found a whole new world just miles from home.

“That was incredible,” Mike reflects. “We found you don’t necessarily have to go coast to coast to meet fabulous people. You’ll find them right here.”

How Mike & Lucia Ratrie biked from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

A PENNY FOR YOUR SHOTS?

WRITER: FRED HILTON

It seemed appropriate I first heard this fascinating story at a cocktail party—some people believe sucking on a penny can beat a Breathalyzer test. It wasn’t just a theory, the fellow told me, but a fact.

“The copper and zinc from the penny keep the Breathalyzer from registering properly,” he says.

Of course, we all know drinking and driving is like texting while driving—stupid, dangerous, and illegal. Research revealed that a variation on the story says doing this causes an unusually high reading, providing a defense of machine malfunction.

However, drunk drivers can quit rejoicing. The sucking myth is just that—a myth. In 2003, the cast of “Mythbusters” tested the trick. The pennies had no effect on the Breathalyzer.

HowStuffWorks.com agrees. Some Breathalyzers in the past may have been fooled but not those now used. “Breathalyzers provide an infrared light that changes in intensity based on alcohol content in the mouth. First, the Breathalyzer’s light passes through a sample of the person’s breath which will cause the intensity of the light to change. The change can be used to calculate the amount of alcohol in the sample, and therefore, the person’s drunkenness. It’s complicated for a little machine, but it was developed specifically because it’s hard, if not impossible, to fool.”

Sources

“Can You Trick a Breathalyzer?” BACtrack.com

Additionally, standard procedure for police is to wait 15 to 20 minutes before taking a sample to observe behavior and ensure any recently imbibed substance is fully absorbed into the bloodstream.

The quintessential urban legend debunker, Snopes.com, pulls no punches in shooting down the penny myth: “Pennies held in the mouth no more fool the Breathalyzer than would hopping on one foot while reciting the Lord’s Prayer,” Snopes says.

So if you’re foolish enough to drive while drinking, go ahead and suck that penny. You’ll have a nice imprint of Abraham Lincoln’s profile on the inside of your cheek when they book you.

https://www.bactrack.com/blogs/expert-center/35040389-can-you-trick-a-breathalyzer

“Will Sucking on a Penny Fool a Breathalyzer Test?” by David Emery, Urban Legends, About.com, August 21, 2016, http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/crime/fl/Will-Sucking-on-Penny-Fool-a-Breathalyzer-Test.htm

“Can a penny help you pass a Breathalyzer?” by Cherise Lapine, How Stuff Works http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/safety-regulatory-devices/can-a-penny-help-pass-breathalyzer.htm/printable

“Take My Breath Away,” by David Mikkelson, Snopes.com, April 9, 2012, http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/breath.asp

“Suck a Penny,” DUI Central Blog, Law Offices of Taylor & Taylor https://www.duicentral.com/blog/2012/07/23/suck-a-penny/

That place right now is The Heart of the Villages. Our physicians and medical professionals have been treating Central Floridians for years with a level of exemplary cardio care that comes straight from the heart. We’re in a new location now, but our hearts are where they’ve always been—with you and the health of your family.

New location! The Oaks Professional Center, 8575 NE 138th Lane Call today for a consultation at 352.674.2080 heartofthevillages.com

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“The entire staff treat you tremendously! They are the epitome of professionalism. Before [eyelid surgery] I looked like my father and after, I look like a whole new person. I would recommend Dr. Terpstra to anyone.” —

Over time, gravity can cause your eyelids to sag, get puffy or turn outward, creating vision problems and making your face look more tired and haggard than you feel. The good news is that you don’t have to suffer from disabling and disfiguring eyelid problems, thanks to a safe cosmetic surgery called blepharoplasty.

Board Certified Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Shelby Terpstra is highly experienced in cosmetic and reparative blepharoplasty, and has returned clear vision, a refreshed appearance and self-confidence to hundreds of patients. “Most report seeing, looking and feeling better than they have in years,” says Dr. Terpstra. “Blepharoplasty can be truly rejuvenating.” In some cases the surgery is covered by insurance, so call today to schedule an appointment and learn what blepharoplasty can do to improve your vision and your life.

MIKE FLASCH

Andrea Vineyard is passionate about teaching. It has been her love for 20 years, and the Tavares High School teacher of special needs students has been lauded as one of the best in the state: “A teacher who goes beyond the basic job description to continue positive growth in her students.”

Lake County’s 2015-16 Teacher of the Year also won the Magic of Teaching Award from Macy’s, a statewide honor.

“I was really humbled,” she says. “I am just doing my job and I love what I do…It has been the most wonderful experience in my life actually, because I have experienced more than just being recognized, but learning that I am more than just a teacher. I am a mother to these students and also a friend to them.”

For many of her 13 students, she is their teacher from the time they are in the ninth grade, at ages 14 or 15, until they “age out” at 22.

Special needs students thrive in a consistent and structured environment, she says. Most are frightened and meek as freshmen.

Her goal is to help them gain selfconfidence and life skills they can use after high school. They learn to work jobs around campus, ride the city bus, cook, and create a monthly budget.

“Watching my students become adults is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job,” Andrea says. “The strongest evidence of success is when I see that same distraught ninth-grade student walking across the stage at graduation with his peers, sporting a huge confident smile while yelling, ‘I did it!’ That’s the exact moment when I know I succeeded as a teacher.”

Her love for teaching was instilled at a young age. Andrea’s 94-year-old grandmother taught second grade. “I always tell her, ‘I am who I am today because of you,’” she says. Andrea also had a set of grandparents who

were professors at the University of Wisconsin.

While in high school in Ripon, Wisconsin, she was in the gifted program, where she was able to choose different fields to study and work in the afternoons.

“I chose to work in a facility with mentally challenged adults,” she recalls. “I did that every day and absolutely loved it. I went camping with them, and I just fell in love with it…Now I realize [special education] is where I am supposed to be.”

After receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Alabama, getting married and having two daughters, she endured challenging times when her youngest was diagnosed with leukemia.

“We lived at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for more than two years,” Andrea says, recalling the family was provided a trip to Disney World through Make-A-Wish Foundation. The experience inspired

Photos: FRED LOPEZ

Andrea’s family to move to the Sunshine State in 2004. She taught at Treadway Elementary before moving to Tavares High School.

Her grown daughters appear to be following Andrea’s footsteps. The oldest, 24, works at a group home for adults with disabilities, and the youngest, 21, is in school in Georgia to become a special education teacher.

Andrea now devotes many weekends as the Lake County Schools District coordinator for Special Olympics. She works with the state Special Olympics office in coordinating events, and was thrilled when Tavares was honored to host the State Special Olympics last year and again this year. Basketball championships took place last month at the Big House, across the street from Tavares Middle School.

“I had over 70 kids from Tavares High come volunteer last year,” Andrea says.

“They absolutely loved it.”

She credits Special Olympics for fostering friendships, positive experiences, and self-esteem in her students as well as the volunteers, many of whom are part of Best Buddies at Tavares High School.

Best Buddies is a club of mainstream students, each paired with a special needs student as a mentor.

Andrea was touched when one of the Best Buddies wrote her a letter of appreciation, which read in part: “Your job is the hardest but the most needed. Thank you so much for being just who you are.”

The teacher hopes lifelong friendships are being forged through Best Buddies. “I want them to come back 10 years from now after they graduate high school and say, I’m still talking to so and so,” she says.

Andrea credits her students for also inspiring her to pursue more in the educational field.

“I have learned that I am more capable of accomplishing things that I didn’t think that I could ever do,” says Andrea, who has gone back to school to obtain a specialist degree in leadership. “I want to continue on to the next chapter; my ultimate goal is that I would love to be a principal and have my own school.”

She was chosen by the Florida Department of Education to take part in workshops filled with evidence-based strategies, tools, and resources to bring back to share with fellow Lake County teachers.

“They raised the bar now for teachers in the state of Florida and they made it really hard because they want the best and brightest, however, sometimes not always the best and brightest are the best teachers,” Andrea says. “You have to have the heart and love for the students.”

Her advice to prospective teachers is to go into the profession for the right reasons.

“It’s not for the money, and it’s not for the three months off because we really don’t have that all the time,” she says. “I teach during the summer too, but my main thing is you have got to love what you do.”

She knows some teachers experience burnout early in their careers.

“I have never had that feeling at all,” Andrea says. “Hopefully, I will become principal one day, but until then, I won’t go anywhere else. I love these kids, and I am blessed because I have known the parents of my students for so long. We have developed friendships.”

She considers herself an advocate for special needs children. “I will stand up for my kids,” she says. “I will go against anybody that has anything [negative] to do with my kids because the students come first.”

Recess was once an important part of the school day. Now it has become an issue that has pitted parents against schools. As always, though, there are two sides to every argument.

WRITER: LEIGH NEELY

In the early part of this new century, there was a trend to move away from recess in schools. Research indicates this began with the implementation of “No Child Left Behind” in 2002. Children are covering difficult subjects earlier, and there’s a need for the teacher to have more classroom time. There are those who argue that the physical education class now available in most schools fulfills the need for movement and creativity outside the classroom. However, many believe this organized, restrictive exercise does not meet all the needs.

There was a time when climbing on the jungle gym, swinging, and kids chasing one another was a regular part of the school day. Psychologists say there’s a definite

link between carefree playing and improved skills in the classroom, and there’s been research done recently that says playing with blocks aids language development.

Though legislation to ensure students get to play at some point during the school day failed in 2016, it has once again been introduced by state Sen. Anitere Flores (R-Miami). This 20 minutes of playtime will be in addition to the required 150 minutes of physical education (PE) class each week for students from kindergarten through fifth grade. If it is approved, it will take effect in August with the opening of the new school year.

Cindy Christidis is principal at Treadway Elementary School in

provide a minimum of 60 minutes a week for recess and sometimes more. It is not a scheduled time to allow the teacher to find what works best for the class. There are also daily PE classes.

“Our faculty, staff, and parents support the implementation of recess at Treadway,” Cindy says. “The Treadway community has been very supportive in this process, and I am not aware of any issues at this time with recess. We have a very involved and engaged [School Advisory Council] that is mindful of our students’ academic and social growth.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) agreed that PE

a healthy lifestyle, but recess gives children the opportunity to play creatively. For this reason, the AAP believes it should be part of the daily school routine.

This is supported by a study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which says recess offers one of the “most powerful opportunities to strengthen schools, foster healthy child development, and boost learning.” According to the foundation, more than $800 billion is spent on education, and yet one of the best tools is being dismissed.

Most of the arguments against recess dealt with these issues:

• Teachers need more classroom time

• Outdoor play can lead to injuries and lawsuits

• Possible access to strangers on a playground

• More incidents of bullying

Missing recess also has been a typical form of punishment, giving teachers some leverage with children with behavioral problems. However, there has been nothing definitive in any of the research that says it is better to have children spend the day at school without recess time.

In a press release from the National Association of Elementary School Principals, Joan Almon says, “The Common Core Standards were created to help graduates enter the workplace and college. A recent IBM Institute study asked 1,500 CEOs around the world what they sought most in employees. The answer was simple: creativity. There is no better way to foster creativity than to keep it alive in early childhood when it is naturally strong and expresses itself through play.”

WRITER:

Lory Baxley never met a math problem she couldn’t solve. Math was her favorite subject in school, and she even served as a tutor while attending LakeSumter State College in the 1990s.

Several years ago, while helping her fourth-grade son with his homework, math finally left her feeling bewildered. Not because she couldn’t come up with the right answer. Instead, she was angry that Cole, 10, had to solve a two-step algebra problem involving variables.

“He is a bright kid, but children his age are concrete thinkers rather than abstract thinkers,” says Baxley, a resident of Eustis who works in the business development department of Advanced Nursing Concepts. “Asking someone his age to solve that problem is like asking a fish to climb a tree. He became emotional and frustrated because he could not understand what finding a variable meant. He even asked me if he was going to fail fourth grade.”

Baxley conducted research and felt the new methodologies and curriculums being taught in public schools are, pardon the pun, rotten to the core. Like so many parents across the country, she became a grassroots activist dedicated to fighting Common Core.

Common Core represents the biggest widespread change in America’s public schools since former President George W. Bush signed “No Child Left Behind” into law in 2002. Initiated by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, Common Core creates tough new nationwide standards for what students in grades K-12 should know and be able to achieve at each grade level—and difficult tests to go along with them.

The first stage involved implementing rigorous new standards in English and math by emphasizing critical thinking, reading complex materials, and learning core math concepts through context and application rather than rote memorization. Forty-five states in the United States have adopted Common Core.

But many parents, like Baxley adamantly oppose the program. Its biggest liability, she says, is that students must meet a set of untested, unproved academic standards.

“The Federal Drug Administration would never approve the use of a drug without a clinical trial. So why was Common Core approved with no concern for possible harm or adverse consequences? There’s no evidence that it enriches education or improves student achievement. It is an unbelievable governmental monster forced on our children.” Baxley says.

She has worked diligently to slay the monster by speaking against it to legislators in Tallahassee, officials from the Department of Education, and the Lake County legislative delegation. She has even appeared on radio shows and is active in an increasingly popular Facebook group called Lake County Against Common Core.

“Our Facebook page typically grows at the beginning of each school year,” she says. “That’s when parents who have children in elementary school see the kind of math problems their children are being asked to solve. They become shocked and frustrated.”

Baxley also has discovered that Common Core politics make for strange bedfellows. Everyone from tea party conservatives to teachers unions has rallied against it.

“It’s a nonpartisan issue. Liberals and conservatives alike hate it,” she says.

Of course, not everyone is ready to kick Common Core to the curb. Proponents often cite statistics from Kentucky, which, in February 2010, became the first state to adopt Common Core standards. The state’s college and career readiness rate improved from 34 percent in 2010 to 62 percent in 2014.

Kentucky’s success does not surprise Stacy JohnsonProctor, a seventh-grade language arts teacher at Tavares Middle School. A supporter of Common Core, she says that teaching students challenging curriculum such as writing argumentative essays, research papers, and thesis statements better prepares them to succeed in high school and college.

“The language arts standards are very good because students today are learning about things that I didn’t learn until I was in high school,” says Johnson-Proctor, a resident of Fruitland Park. “For the ones who go on to college, I

Common Core is designed to raise the standards of learning and increase the challenges to ensure growth in education. But is it working?

JAMES COMBS

think they’ll be more prepared than the generations before them. I also like how Common Core encourages students to read more in subjects such as science and social studies. Being a good and enthusiastic reader is vitally important and helps them better comprehend what they are supposed to be learning.”

Other proponents argue that the new standards will make U.S. students more competitive with their international peers. So far, that hasn’t been the case. In 2012, U.S. students ranked 36th out of 65 countries after taking the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) test, which is administered once every three years to 15-year-old students throughout the world. When U.S. students took the test again in 2015, average math scores declined, and students showed no signs of improvement in reading.

Those declining math scores, critics say, reflect how Common Core uses complex methods to solve simple math problems. For instance, students are no longer taught mathematical shortcuts like cross-multiplying when dividing fractions.

With Common Core, arriving at the right answer to a math problem is only half the battle. It is equally important for students to understand the mathematical concepts used to solve a problem. But do second- and third-grade students have the cognitive skills required to demonstrate a deeper understanding of math concepts?

Absolutely not, says Jaennae Riley, a frustrated parent who says Common Core is the reason she transferred her daughter from a public school to First Academy-Leesburg.

As a third grader, Kierstyn Riley, 9, struggled to understand and complete her math homework, leaving her feeling demoralized. Evenings in the Riley household were often filled with tears and frustration.

“Kierstyn would bring home D’s and F’s on her math tests,” says Jaennae, a resident of Fruitland Park. “She would have to figure out difficult math problems where there were several right answers. Even if she figured out one right answer it would still be wrong if she didn’t choose the other right answers. And points were taken off if she came up with the right answer but didn’t solve the problem according to Common Core standards. She would

literally sit there and cry at nights because she became so frustrated.”

To compound problems, Jaennae had an equally difficult time grasping Common Core math, rendering her helpless in assisting her daughter with homework.

“I tried Googling and texting other parents—all to no avail. We had no idea how to help our children. It was the worst nightmare ever,” she says. “She despised every ounce of math and began telling me that she was not smart.”

Her fortunes have changed considerably as a fourthgrade student at First Academy-Leesburg, where traditional methods are used to teach math. She has made A’s and B’s on all her math homework and tests.

“For me, it’s a big sigh of relief to see her going from crying two hours every night to understanding and enjoying math,” Jaennae says. “Now, if she’s struggling with something, I can help her.”

The struggles with advanced coursework and having to take numerous state-mandated standardized Common Core tests are taking the joy out of learning, according to opponents like Baxley.

“I’m all for challenging our kids, but I want our children to be taught what is appropriate for their age level so they can continue to love learning.”

COMMON CAUSESOF FINGER STIFFNESS

who are referred to a hand spe cialist is loss of mobility and mo complaints are gradual in onset rath and loss of mobility may or may not be they enjoy because of loss of gripping common causes of this loss in mobility and various injuries. Fortunately, there are treatments available for these con the common causes and treatment op

Trigger Finger

and can be cumbersome and uncom fortable to wear thus, are not typically

a ‘tunnel’ made up of a system of pul tendon glides through. When there is swelling, fromany number of causes, the tendon can catch at the opening of the tunnel. This is similar to a thread which typically can be pulled back and forth easily through the eye of a needle however, when there is a knot on the thread, it is caught at the eye this knot/swelling is big enough, the tendon can actually get caught in the tunnel. There are other rare condi in mind when considering a diagnosis. moving it, and occasionally a perma line of treatment. There is a success

ment. With surgery, a small incision is made at the edge of the tunnel and it is ‘opened’ so the tendon does not get caught. With the needle and thread analogy, this is similar to widening the eye of the needle, allowing the knot on the thread to easily move back and covers the end of the bones, which

and tear and injuries such as fractures. joy because of loss of gripping ant and common causes of this injuries. Fortunately, there are treatments available for these

accompanied by pain in the joints and swelling. Bone spurs can develop and widen the joints, causing misshapen ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen can be helpful in early stages. be injected into joints to give relief help.

between the Proximal Phalanx and

moving so that pain is eliminated. Joint replacements aim to maintain eliminate pain. The smallest joints respond to other treatments. This eliminates pain and restores a more between the Trapezium and the has many surgical remedies.

Trigger Finger Illustration

Usually, a suture or a tendon from the wrist area can then be used to replace the missing bone rather than a metal implant.

always be considered among other your orthopaedic hand specialist

Dr. Zakariah S. Mahmood

include old tendon injuries, sprains, and fractures that have healed incorrectly. These should

Better Movement. Better Moments.

way to live life is to do what you love and have a

Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Mahmood practices at

they happen, our team

physicians are dedicated to ensuring that you are taken care of as soon as possible with fast access orthopaedic care. That’s why we opened a clinic conveniently located for the residents of The Villages®

AGAINST THE BULLY

As bullying became a national topic, Lake and Sumter County schools implemented a variety of programs to change student behavior and attitudes, build character and help them feel comfortable enough to use the best weapon for self-defense: communication.

WRITER: CHRIS GERBASI

Disturbing reports of bullying and violence in schools are found in the news every day, involving everything from threats hurled across social media, to mass shooting plots, to youths driven to suicide under the crush of constant insults.

Bullying always has existed in schools—it’s an unfortunate fact of life. But national focus on the issue has mushroomed in recent years, and that’s a good thing for schools from an educational and preventive standpoint.

School districts, including those in Lake and Sumter counties, are armed with anti-bullying programs and policies backed by state statutes, changing how principals handle bullying and violence on campus.

Schools also are doing more to protect students’ privacy when issues arise, says William Roberts, principal at Lake’s Windy Hill Middle School.

“There’s a lot more attention,” he says. “In the past, students were more quiet about it. They feel more comfortable reporting things instead of internalizing it and keeping it to themselves.”

The Lake and Sumter student conduct codes have similar definitions for bullying, cyberbullying, and harassment, which include physical, verbal, written, or electronically transmitted or posted threats, taunts, insults, or psychological abuse that may cause bodily harm or degradation.

To combat bullying, the districts provide numerous programs to students to build character and modify behavior.

But it’s up to each school to use them, said Sebrina Dillon-Banks, administrative coordinator of Lake’s Safe Schools Department.

“The programs are only as effective as they are implemented,” she says. “If they’re implemented well, you’ll see results.”

Windy Hill uses the Bully-Proofing Your School program, in which counselors and administrators teach students to take a stand against bullying.

“It’s powerful and impactful because students ask questions, and they have the disciplinarians in their classroom,” William says.

Another successful program is PBS, or Positive Behavior Support, William says. Students are recognized for doing the right thing, from something small such as helping a fellow student get school supplies, to standing up to someone who is being mean. Rewards for students include

“It’s a middle school campus—things happen,” William acknowledges. “But we focus so much on the positive, it really helps keep negative behavior at a minimum.”

The various programs are sponsored either by the

“I believe the combined programs bring about stakeholder awareness,” says Julie Robinson-Lueallen, principal at East Ridge High School in Lake. “These programs are run throughout the school year to help support

The Sumter School District’s programs include Olweus Bullying Prevention, and character education programs such as Project Wisdom, Character Connex, and Alive to Thrive.

Olweus is a survey asking students for anonymous opinions about the bullying climate in their schools, says tt, senior director of curriculum. Their answers help schools assess needed improvements.

“We are not just academic people,” Debbie says. “We are that role model, teaching them to be good friends and

In Sumter, which includes eight schools, 11 bullying incidents were reported in 2015-16, down from 16 the year before, Debbie says. In Lake, which has 40 schools, there were 43 bullying cases and 49 harassment cases in 2015-

At Wildwood Middle High School, principal Richard Hampton says he doesn’t encounter many serious bullying ght usually stems from an isolated argument rather than persistent harassment.

Of course, school programs can’t eliminate all bullying,

“I think they have been successful, but I don’t think there’s anything available to stop it,” Richard says. “The programs are not designed to eliminate it, because they

Sorting out whether allegations constitute bullying can

When incidents occur, administrators in each district follow similar procedures. Anyone—victim, witness, le a complaint in person or anonymously. An assistant principal investigates the complaint, and parents of the students involved are contacted within 24 hours. Interviews with the students are

Once the investigation is completed, the assistant principal discusses the findings with the school principal,

and they meet with the students and parents. If discipline is required, it may range from additional work assignments to detention, suspension, or expulsion, if the bullying is

Creating a positive environment is a principal’s main

“The most important thing is communication, making sure the kids are able to feel comfortable enough to share if somebody is bothering them,” he says.

The focus of our practice is to provide the very best surgical care available to patients. We are committed to achieving this goal through continuing education and training in the most current robotic and laparoscopic techniques. Our practice treats our patients, nurses and staff like family. It is our belief that all patients deserve the best medical care available. We provide the most advanced, compassionate surgical care that has helped thousands live longer, healthier, happier lives.

Our website, www.MidFloridaSurgical.com provides information regarding each of our surgeons.

Mid-Florida Surgical Associates has been serving Lake, Sumter, and West Orange Counties since 1991.

WHEN VEINS ARE A PAIN

Veins comprise one-half of your circulatory system and have a critical job to do as the counterparts to the arteries that carry oxygenated blood to all parts of your body. Veins return the oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart and lungs so the circulation cycle can begin all over again.

When oxygen-depleted blood has a difficult time returning, the condition is called venous insufficiency. A number of factors can cause the condition, but varicose veins, blood clots, injury, and malfunctioning valves in the lower extremities are the most common reasons.

One-way valves in the veins of the legs combat the pull of gravity by closing to prevent blood from falling backward against the normal direction of flow. Damage to those valves from abnormalities in the veins, varicose veins, clots and/ or injury can cause blood to pool in the legs, leading to discoloration, skin ulcerations, worsening varicose veins and more. Legs can feel tight, achy and tired, weak and heavy. Muscles may begin to cramp more often. Legs, feet and ankles may swell. These are all signs of venous insufficiency.

But the worst symptom by far is the one posed by clots. If pooling blood or swelling veins should form into a blood clot in the legs, the

condition immediately becomes one with potentially serious consequences. Should the blood clot break free it could easily travel to the lungs or heart and cause a pulmonary embolism or heart attack.

Bryan Carter, MPA-C at the Heart of The Villages, is one of the area’s leading vein specialists. His credentials have carried him through all parts of Florida and South Georgia to train other medical providers—Physician Assistants, Nurse practitioners and Physicians— in the sub specialty field of Venous Insufficiency. According to Bryan, “This field of medicine can be quite challenging depending on the extent of disease, but it can also be truly rewarding when patients tell me how much their legs feel and look better after treatment.”

Bryan Carter worked with one of Orlando’s most influential vascular surgeons and together, they utilized laser and chemical ablation techniques that completely eliminate the need for the more conventional— and now obsolete—vein stripping. Treatments are in-office and can be accomplished with very minimal discomfort afterward. There are no stitches and no downtime. He performs all the procedures for the Heart of The Villages and wouldn’t have it any other way. “I think it is important to build relationships with

our patients and that is easier to do when they see the same person, me, every time. I get to know them and they get to know the team here.”

Bryan is also a big believer in

reading this is quite simple. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned earlier, the severe ones of course, but also keep an eye out for the vague feelings of

forewarned is forearmed. “I think it is always better to be proactive and not reactive, especially with venous problems. Symptoms of venous insufficiency can be subtle and creep up on a person until they become too hard to ignore.

Much better to get out ahead of them early, before problems escalate and get to a critical point where they become a much larger burden and even life threatening.”

The message for everyone

tired, aching legs and swelling that comes and goes. Have Bryan at the Heart of The Villages take a look. It certainly won’t hurt and could quite literally, save your life.

FOR MORE INFORMATION HEART OF THE VILLAGES

The Oaks Professional Center 8575 NE 138th Lane, Lady Lake, Fl 32159 352.674.2080

heartofthevillages.com

The of

MEDICINE

These days, more and more people receive their medical care from allied health personnel that serve as “physician extenders” to deal with a shortage of physicians. This is especially true in primary care specialties. Unfortunately, many patients are confused to see a nurse practitioner or a physician’s assistant for their routine medical needs and come to regard these professionals as their “doctor.”

While it is good they come to trust these individuals, it also adds to the public’s confusion of exactly who is providing their health care. How do physicians differ from, say, nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants? How do these last two differ from each other? What is a licensed practical nurse compared to a registered nurse? Here is a breakdown on some of the differences in education and salary among these various professionals.

Physician

A physician must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university plus complete four years of education in an accredited allopathic or osteopathic medical school to receive a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree, respectively. Some universities offer a six-year curriculum leading to a combined bachelor’s degree and doctor of medicine degree. Some medical schools compress the full four-year curriculum into three years by eliminating vacation time and some elective clinical rotations.

Once an MD/DO degree is obtained, the physician has to complete a residency in a medical specialty approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties. This can vary from three years for family practice or internal medicine to four years for anesthesiology to seven

years for neurosurgery. Salaries vary widely depending on the specialty and type of practice (independent private practice or salaried physician in a hospital or large physician group), but are typically in the low to upper six figures. Physicians have no restrictions in practice within their specialty.

Medical assistant (MA)

An MA must have a high school diploma or GED. There are two pathways but only one leads to certification as an MA. First, the individual may get on-the-job training with a physician. In the other, the individual completes a program accredited by the American Association of Medical Assistants. The course of study is usually about 34 weeks long. Responsibilities of an MA include keeping medical records, taking of patient histories, preparing patient exam rooms and patients, minor procedures (injections, vaccinations, changing dressings), administering medications as prescribed by a physician, and patient education. Median salary nationwide is $30,000 annually.

Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN)

You must have a high school diploma or GED, and then attend an accredited vocational school to earn a certificate. The course of study is usually 12-18 months. Responsibilities

are more patient-care centered and comprehensive than for an MA— taking patient histories and vital signs, changing dressings, performing minor procedures depending on experience, drawing blood, starting IVs, and assisting physicians with procedures, and they are most often supervised by a registered nurse. This degree can be a first step to becoming a registered nurse. Median salary is around $42,000 annually.

Registered Nurse (RN)

RNs need a high school diploma or GED to follow one of two RN pathways. First is a three-year course of study in an accredited nursing school leading to a licensure as a registered nurse. The other is a four-year program leading to a bachelor’s in nursing science degree. The education is broader and more in depth than for MAs or LPNs/LVNs. Graduates of four-year programs are often preferentially hired in hospitals and advance more easily to supervisory positions. Nurses provide direct patient care and have a wide breadth of responsibilities, including critical care, acute care, and emergency care. There is much flexibility with an RN degree. Median pay nationally is $28 per hour or around $60,000 a year for full-time work. Registered nurses may go on to earn a master’s degree and even a Ph.D. in nursing science.

Nurse Practitioner/Advance Practice Registered Nurse (NP/APRN)

You must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing science, and then pursue a graduate program, typically 1824 months, leading to a master of

WRITER: RICHARD T. BOSSHARDT, MD, FACS PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ

nursing science degree. Some obtain a Ph.D. (doctorate) in nursing science or in a related health field. This is also a bit confusing to patients because now you have a nurse who is also a doctor but not really a medical doctor. Most programs prefer applicants to have several years of practical experience as a registered nurse before applying. NPs and APRNs may work under a physician but may also practice independently as a primary care provider. Some nurse practitioners specialize in certain areas such as pediatrics or geriatrics. Median salary is $98,000 annually.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

This is a specialized area of nursing. CRNA’s are registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing with at least one year’s experience in acute care who then studied

for two to three years in an approved program leading to certification as a nurse anesthetist. CRNA’s administer anesthesia under the supervision of an MD/DO anesthesiologist. Median salary is around $170,000.

Certified Anesthesia Assistant (CAA)

These individuals must have a bachelor’s degree in a health care field or nursing. Some medical experience is preferred but not required. Must complete a two-year master’s program leading to certification as a CAA. CAAs function very much like CRNA’s and the salary is comparable.

Physician’s Assistant (PA)

You must have a bachelor’s degree and three years of experience in a health care field. This can be as an emergency medical technician, paramedic, or as a nurse. You then complete a master’s degree in an accredited school, typically two years, leading to certification as a PA. Most PAs then choose an area that interests them and work with a physician in that field to learn the particulars. PAs are very patient centered and always work under the supervision of a physician, but have a great deal of autonomy and may see patients on their own. Median salary is $97.000.

The difference between physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants is underscored by the length and breadth of training. A physician family practitioner will typically have four years of college, four years of medical school, and three years of a residency in that specialty. A nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant will have four years of college, some practical experience in health care, and two years of education for their degree. An anesthesiologist, a medical doctor, will typically have four years of college, four years of medical school, and four years of residency training in anesthesia. A nurse anesthetist or anesthesia assistant will have a four-year college degree, some work experience in health care, and complete a twoto three-year program in anesthesia training.

What’s essential here is remembering the amount of training and experience these health care professionals need to do the work they do. All of them are in place to assure patients get the best of care.

LAKE COUNTY’S MOST POWERFUL CANCER FIGHTER

New technology at Florida Hospital Waterman expands radiation oncology treatment for some of the most challenging cases while also reducing treatment time for some patients.

In a promising development for cancer patients in Lake County, Florida Hospital Waterman has acquired the TrueBeam Radiotherapy System from Varian Medical systems. The innovative system enables a radically different approach to treating cancer with image-guided radiotherapy, and it is the newest and most advanced technology of its kind in Central Florida.

The TrueBeam system was engineered from the ground up to deliver more powerful cancer treatments with pinpoint accuracy and precision. It uniquely integrates new imaging and motion management technologies that make it possible to deliver treatments quickly while monitoring and compensating for tumor motion.

“TrueBeam is a real game changer that will enable us to treat even the most challenging cases with unprecedented speed and precision,” said Director Rick Golab, of the Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute. “With a wide range of new capabilities, TrueBeam breaks the mold in just about every dimension, making it possible for us to offer faster, more targeted treatments to tumors even as they move and change over time.”

Faster Treatments

With dose delivery rates that are 40 to 140 percent higher than earlier generations

of Varian technology, the TrueBeam system completes a treatment commensurately faster. This means greater patient comfort by shortening treatments and improving precision by leaving less time for tumor motion during dose delivery. “Intelligent” automation further speeds treatments with an up to fivefold reduction in the number of steps needed for image guidance and dose delivery.

Simple treatments that once took 15 minutes or more are completed in less than two once the patient is in position. “With radiation oncology, every step we take to make the treatment more accurate will help reduce radiation to surrounding tissues and ultimately reduce side effects to the patient,” said Anudh Jain, M.D., radiation oncologist, Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute. “Patients spend a whole lot less time lying still, immobilized on a hard surface.”

Enhanced Precision

The precision of the TrueBeam system is measured in increments of less than a millimeter. This accuracy is made possible by the system’s sophisticated architecture, which synchronizes imaging, patient positioning, motion management, beam shaping, and dose delivery, performing accuracy checks every 10 milliseconds throughout the entire treatment. Critical

data points are measured continually as a treatment progresses, ensuring the system maintains a “true isocenter,” or focal point of treatment.

For lung and other tumors subject to respiratory motion, TrueBeam offers gated RapidArc® radiotherapy, which makes it possible to monitor patient breathing and compensate for tumor motion while quickly delivering a dose during a continuous rotation around the patient. According the American Cancer Society, during the past decade, lung cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States. With TrueBeam, Dr. Jain explains that radiation can be delivered to a moving lung tumor as if it were standing still. “We expect this to make a meaningful difference for lung cancer patients in the area,” he says.

Faster Imaging at Lower Doses

TrueBeam imaging technology produces three-dimensional images used to finetune tumor targeting in 60 percent less time. Additional functionality makes it possible to create images using 25 percent less X-ray dose.

TrueBeam can be used for radiotherapy treatments including image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery (IGRT and IGRS), intensity-modulated radiotherapy

(IMRT), RapidArc® radiotherapy and gated RapidArc.

“With TrueBeam, we can select the optimal treatment for every type of cancer,” Dr. Jain says. “Investment in this equipment demonstrates Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute’s commitment to providing Lake County residents with the most advanced cancer care close to home.”

Central Florida’s Leading Cancer Institute

The radiation oncology team at the Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute, led by radiation oncologist Anduh Jain, MD, has more than three decades of combined experience helping patients navigate the road to survivorship. As part of the Florida

Hospital Cancer Institute, with more than 10 locations and 12 radiation oncologists throughout Central Florida, patients have access to a wide range of experts that have trained at some of the nation’s most prestigious and renowned cancer centers. In addition to radiation oncology services, The Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute offers medical oncology and hematology services through an exclusive partnership with Florida Cancer Specialists, the state’s largest cancer care provider. This means the most advanced technology and most experienced physicians are providing leading-edge care right here in Lake County.

“We are the area’s only comprehensive cancer center providing this level of care to our community,” said David Ottati, president and chief executive officer,

Florida Hospital Waterman. “Our new TrueBeam Linear Accelerator enables us to battle cancer with state-of-the art technology while ensuring our patients receive compassionate care and also have access to support groups and patient navigator services. This investment, coupled with our other outstanding programs and services, means there should be very few times patients need to leave this community for advanced cancer care.” FOR

4000 Waterman Way

Tavares, FL 32778

352. 253.3600

“The human body is the best picture of the human soul.”

—Ludwig Wittgenstein

BALSAMIC AND VINEGAR CHICKEN

This meal is best prepared the night before, but may also be cooked in the crockpot for busy families 8 boneless chicken thighs

“My favorite thing to do is teach how to cook easy, healthy, budget-friendly meals with minimal ingredients!”

Jaime Alonso, certified health coach

I received my initial training and certification as a wellness coach at Spencer Institute. I then continued my training as a health coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s cutting-edge health coach training program. During my training, I studied more than 100 dietary theories, practical lifestyle management techniques, and innovative coaching methods with some of the world’s top health and wellness experts. My teachers included Dr. Andrew Weil, director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Dr. Deepak Chopra, leader in the field of mindbody medicine; Dr. David Katz, director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center; Dr. Walter Willet, chair of nutrition at Harvard University; Geenan Roth, best-selling author and expert on emotional eating; and many other leading researchers and nutrition authorities.

DIRECTIONS

1. In a separate bowl, combine the mustard, balsamic vinegar, garlic, rosemary, lemon juice, and season salt and pepper to your liking.

2. Pour the olive oil in with the mixture while whisking.

3. Place the chicken in a marinating container and pour the mustard balsamic marinade on top. Place in the refrigerator and let marinate for about 30 minutes.

4. Preheat your oven to 375 F.

5. Transfer the chicken to a baking dish and empty the remaining sauce on top.

6. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.

My responsibility at TNT is to help you create a “sustainable” lifestyle change. Meeting you where you are in your journey and equipping you with practical tools to grow and learn new strategies; teaching you how to shop and meal plan; helping you create new ideas; and learning how to go out to eat are a few of the hands-on lessons you receive. I teach you how to live well for life!

A HEALTHY, QUICK, AND EASY-TO-MAKE MEAL THAT’S READY IN MINUTES

*For crockpot, just prepare Dijon, balsamic vinegar, garlic, rosemary, lemon, salt, and pepper and pour over chicken in the croc kpot and let it cook!

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO LOSE WEIGHT?

WRITER: SHYLEY MCFARLAND

With almost 70 percent of the American population overweight, weight loss is big news and big business. There is constant research being done, and countless products being marketed to help people lose weight. Some of those products are safe, some are not, and some help while others don’t. Because none of them is a magic cure, people continue to struggle with obesity.

Why is it so hard to lose weight? The answer to this question is different for each person and their situation. If a person is overweight, eats all the wrong foods, and sits on the couch all day, it is fairly easy to guess why they’re overweight. However, there may be an underlying physical or mental problem that causes this person to sit on the couch all day, and there may be a socioeconomic reason this person eats all the wrong foods. In either case, until the underlying situation is rectified, weight continues to be hard to lose and easy to gain.

Some of the most common underlying conditions that prevent weight loss:

•A thyroid condition can cause weight gain or loss. The most common issues are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and both are treatable.

•Certain medications cause weight gain.

•Depression is one of the leading causes of weight gain and difficulty with weight loss. It can be treated medically, but it is also important to find the cause.

•Menopause may cause weight gain due to hormonal changes and the reduction of estrogen.

•Diabetes may cause weight gain, and while the condition can be treated with medication, the excess weight is reduced with proper nutrition and exercise.

•Stress plays a huge factor in both weight-gain and weight-loss difficulties. The body’s built-in protection systems do as much harm as good: stress causes anxiety, which triggers your brain to tell your body to store fat.

This is a short list of the problems that could prevent losing weight. It is important to see your physician, especially if you are dieting and exercising with no results. While underlying health issues may be the reason people don’t lose weight, this is not always the case. In many situations, the culprit lies in your eating or exercise habits and choices.

Chris Kessler, DC, of Legacy Clinic in The Villages, is a chiropractor who works with patients on weight-loss issues. “The biggest problem I see in the office is patients are unaware they’re eating or drinking specific things that prevent weight loss,” Dr. Chris says. “I had a patient who thought she was eating healthy by having cereal and a banana for breakfast, but in your body that breaks down into sugar and acts as a barrier to weight loss.”

Ask your doctor how many calories per day are appropriate for you, and construct an eating plan that has a healthy balance of protein and other nutrients, with fewer carbs. “Even eating healthy food, you can eat too much at the same time,” Dr. Chris says. “And mixing up the types of food you eat is important.”

Consider your activity levels.

•How much do you move each day, aside from specific workouts or exercise?

•Do you sit at a desk all day?

•How much walking do you do?

•Do you lift weights in going about your daily activities?

•Do you do any bending or squatting in the normal course of your day?

Exercise should be done all day, every day. Just living your life could give you enough exercise, depending on how physical your day-to-day life is. If you sit at a desk all day, swing your feet. Make it a point to stand up at least once an hour and walk around. Do stretches.

If you have a naturally physical life, such as working on a loading dock or playing professional football, you may not need scheduled workouts. Otherwise, you should be working out at least one hour three to five times per week. Your exercise should consist of strength training and cardio workouts. If you aren’t sure what to do, hire a personal trainer. Make sure you talk to your doctor about any physical limitations you may have before starting a workout routine.

Losing weight is hard, but may be impossible if your body systems aren’t working right or you aren’t doing or eating the right things. If weight loss is a problem, talk to your doctor and take stock of your eating and exercise habits so you can locate and correct the problem. Once you get all the facts, you may find that weight loss isn’t as difficult as you thought.

CHAIR YOGA CAN BE DONE ANYWHERE!

Chair yoga is the perfect solution for office workers, commuters, artists, business owners, tired moms, college students, kids, the elderly, the overweight, and couch potatoes and chair spuds everywhere.

Chair yoga is the most accessible form of yoga because it can be done in a seat and is easy enough for all levels. It’s great for anyone who is deskbound, has limited range of motion, or finds certain traditional yoga postures challenging. Chair yoga can help you become more mindful at work, before you eat a meal, on your travels, or while waiting in a doctor’s office. It can be done anywhere and in any type of chair.

Chair Yoga provides a guide to better health with effective, easy-to-follow exercises with step-by-step instructions and photos. Each chapter focuses on stretching and strengthening a different part of the body. It’s easy to find five or ten minutes each day to move and breathe and perform these exercises. The benefits to your physical and mental health will be remarkable.

From Chair Yoga by Kristin McGee. Copyright © 2017 by Kristin McGee. Reprinted by permission of William Morrow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

“Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health.”

—Dalai Lama

RECOVERING FROM LOSS

FACING THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE OR DEALING WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS ON A DAILY BASIS CAN MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE IN A CONSTANT UPHILL BATTLE, BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO COPE. WRITER: LEANN ZOTIS

Life is challenging. There’s no getting around it. Loved ones leave us, either by choice or by mortality. Circumstances change in odd ways. Bodies strengthen or weaken throughout the course of living. Society offers a mixed bag of both curses and blessings. The reality of living is simple; it takes a strong personal constitution to triumph.

It is in the struggle that you will find strength. Just as you must increase the amount of resistance you work against if you want to build muscle at the gym, you will also benefit from the trials and tribulations life throws your way. Learn to rejoice in the journey.

One of life’s greatest personal challenges often comes with the death of a beloved person. For most people, the first brush with death comes with the passing of a family member. Grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles can be close influences early in life and their absence leaves a hole that will never be filled by anyone else. Knowing and accepting this fact should give you a greater appreciation for the temporal nature of life. It brings you into the present and gives you the eyes to see just how important the people in your life are to you right now. Most people will experience job loss in their lifetime. In the short term, this is a shock and a source of fear of the unknown. If it happens unexpectedly, you may be ill-prepared for a shift in income or lifestyle. It may seem like the worst of all possible forks in the road. In reality, losing a job can open doors you never would

have anticipated. Losing your job can lead to learning new skills, taking on new responsibilities, maybe even moving to a new city. Your world can expand and you can grow when life throws you an unexpected twist in your career plans. It’s always good to embrace change and give it a chance to change your life for the better. Few people get through life with absolutely perfect health. Everyone must face something, whether it’s a chronic ailment or a life-threatening disease. Chronic conditions or acute maladies can throw your life plans all askew. Rather than become disheartened by this change in fortune, use it as a way to improve yourself, even in the face of physical problems. Knowing your body is not always going to be youthful and strong can give you the motivation to eat better, exercise more, eliminate bad habits, and learn to care for yourself in ways that will maximize your healthy physical condition throughout life.

Life events may not always follow the idealistic plans you established for yourself when everything seemed to be under your control. That’s OK. Adversity and resistance are the building blocks of a solid constitution and a strong mind. Every challenge, even if it seems tragic at the time, is a chance to grow and become stronger. It can lead you to influence others who face similar problems. It can take you to the peak of your own levels of achievement. In short, accept every challenge and do your best to mold it into your own personal victory.

UNHAPPY DAYS

Depression may be viewed as simply a mood, but it can lead to physical and mental issues.

WRITER: KIRI HATHAWAY

Our world is becoming a drearier place to be. Long work hours, lack of personal time, and even changing social behaviors cause us to stress out so badly we are normalizing it.

This is anything but normal. Prolonged exposure to everyday stressors is causing an increase in depression, both diagnosed and undiagnosed. Many suffer in silence due to the negative connotations associated with depression, but the fact is it’s real and it’s tough to overcome.

Perhaps understanding the real causes of depression can put you on the path to getting better. Perhaps you can understand what triggers the depression in your own life.

Unnatural Working Conditions

Though we’ve become well acquainted with the eight-hour workday, it does not suit everyone universally. A lot of people find themselves loathing the workday, feeling their thoughts wandering, or excessively skipping work may be on the wrong schedule. If you don’t like your job, chances are your schedule is bringing you down.

Studies show that creative individuals require more freedom and flexibility in their work schedule to be more productive. Unfortunately, refusal to conform to the eight-hour day makes you appear to be a bad employee. You have trouble going to work every day, your reputation is affected, and you don’t understand why, which leads to the inevitable spiral of depression.

It’s not too late to fix this situation. Reassess your desires and goals, and don’t wait for permission to pursue your true interests. If a standard work environment is stressful, create a plan to leave it. Just making plans to change a problem gives you a mental boost. Knowing you’re working to get out is the fuel that keeps you going. Maybe you simply need to change departments or see if you can work from home occasionally. It might just be time to pursue a new career or trade. Maybe you should go back to school, start your own business, or learn something new. Whatever your goal, stick with it. Make demands of yourself so you can find happiness.

Modern Social Behavior

Before the internet and cell phones were common, faceto-face discussions were expected and normal. Even people dropping by just to say hello was common. Today, this is no longer the case. With social media platforms getting bigger and taking over more each day, the world is growing more detached. This causes problems you may not even be aware of, mostly with difficulty networking and communicating and the realm of social phobias.

Not speaking to people face to face and becoming withdrawn are hallmark symptoms of depression. With social media, a person feels like they’re socializing without actually doing it. They look to social media to validate themselves or fill the emptiness in their lives.

Perhaps the biggest issue with social media is the negativity. Bad news, heated conversations, and a lack of accountability create an environment that fosters depression. People don’t even realize they’re depressed so they keep going back to these sites and perpetuating their symptoms. And people have always known that socializing is siginificant to healthy living, even if you’re an introverted person.

Instead of browsing social media, reach out personally to close friends and family that care about you for support. These are the people who offer constructive feedback and give you the motivation you need, and this will keep your personal problems out of the limelight.

Taking on Too Much

People are expected to work hard. It is believed if you’re not working excessively, you’re not doing your best job. This logic is flawed.

You need time to rest and enjoy life just as you need time to put your skills to use. If you are trying to balance taking care of family members, working a job, and fretting

over attending social events, chances are you’re going to burn out. There comes a time when you need to stand up and say, “I need time to myself.” No one should blame you for it, but even if they do, keep your chin up and know you’re making the right decision.

When you notice you’re getting burned out, immediately stop everything. Even if it’s just for five minutes, go and take a breath of fresh air. Explain to your bosses, your friends, and your family when things start getting rough that you need a moment. If there’s pushback, tell them you can’t be your most productive self if you don’t get the time you need. Of course, this isn’t a license to become complacent and throw work ethic out the window. Knowing when to push through and when to take a break decreases your stress, and helps manage depression.

Being Hard on Ourselves for Failures

Maybe you didn’t finish school, you didn’t land the promotion, you didn’t meet the love of your life when you wanted. Whatever the failure was, view it as a learning experience, and not the end of your life. Perhaps it’s because of a culture obsessed with status and accomplishment that feelings of inadequacy occur with mistakes or failure.

The truth is that failure is inevitable. We must learn to manage the failures and understand success has many forms. You can’t compare yourself to someone else and measure your worth against theirs accurately. That person’s entire path to success is completely different than yours, and you may not even be destined for the same things. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a moment to reflect on why you failed, or even feel bad about it. In the long run, however, know the right things work out in time provided you put forth the effort.

Regardless of why you are depressed, there is always a root cause. Examine your life in its entirety. What do you notice about how you feel about your work environment, how you socialize with others, how many obligations you have, and how you feel about your personal failures? If the answers are less than stellar, it’s time to get to work fixing them.

This can be a slow process, but putting one foot in front of the other is the first step. Definitely reach out to a friend, a family member, or a trusted therapist for advice and support getting you through your rough patches. In the end, you’ll find yourself looking back on your depression and realizing it was just another obstacle for you to conquer and rule. You’ve got this.

Purchase your tickets today!

newvisionfl.org/dining

Questions? Contact Shelly at sgerig@newvisionfl.org or (352) 435 -5040

Experience food, drink and conversation as you may never have before – without your sight. In this unique dining experience, you will eat dinner in total darkness. The Lake County Sheriff ’s Office SWAT Team, as part of a training exercise, will serve you wearing night vision goggles. The eighth annual Dining in the Dark event is designed to raise awareness about blindness and raise funds for New Vision for Independence, our local non-profit serving people with low vision or blindness and their families in Lake and Sumter Counties and The Villages.

When: April 7, 2017, 6 p.m.

Where: Lake Receptions, 4425 N. HWY 19A, Mount Dora

Tickets: $70 per person or sponsor a named table of 8 for $600

“Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit.”

—Frank Borman

EXPAND POSITIVE ENERGY AND GET HAPPY

Being happy isn’t just something that happens. The only person who can make you truly happy is you, and it might take some work.

WRITER: BRIDGETT WEBBER

Want to be happy regularly? First, get to know how energy works. When you’re sad, your energy is low and heavy, which is why depressed people often look as though they are weighed down by pressure. Happy people walk tall; they feel buoyant, smile a lot, and have no trouble looking you straight in the eye. Their energy is light and high.

Energy and spirit

Your energy and spirit are tied together, and your mood and body language reflect their condition. High spirits stem from plenty of positive energy, while low spirits come from depleted energy. The first step to expanding positive energy is to lift your mood—this may sound obvious, but how many people adhere to the idea when they need it most?

Positive emotions

Elevated feelings arise from inspiring thoughts that make you feel good. Dwelling only on positive thoughts builds positive energy. However, when people are unhappy, remembering to take charge of their thoughts is tough. In fact, even if you remember it’s wise to entertain uplifting ideas when you’re blue, you might lose faith and not bother.

Learning to expand uplifting energy

Consequently, you have to learn how to increase your energy until

doing so is a habit you don’t have to contemplate. Learning comes from repetitive behavior, so you must purposely think uplifting thoughts often. Regularly entertaining happy content in your mind allows more joy to build, and makes doing so again easy.

Content

The content of your mind reveals your emotional state. If you paint each topic of thought with negativity, guess what? You feel bad. Going over how you dislike this and that, or how things should be better fills your mind with negative thoughts that exhaust energy and bring you down. It doesn’t matter if you are justified in being angry or sad, the plan is to expand positive energy and get happy, remember? Thus, even if you are treated unfairly, to be happier, you must put negative feelings aside and take charge of your emotions.

The content of your mind is anything from images to your inner

voice. You might run through subjects in the form of mind movies, as though you’re watching a film. Or, you may repeat statements describing events. At the same time, talking about dissatisfaction or satisfaction depletes or elevates your energy, and contributes to what’s on your mind.

Do you phone friends or family to say how discontented you are about events and how others treat you? Venting is valuable only if you gain support and find solutions; otherwise, it just deepens misery. You choose to stop filling your head with negative content.

Uplifting content includes affirmations repeated aloud or in your head to aid joy. Also, positive mind movies, depicting uplifting events, heartening images, and inspiring tales read by your inner voice increase the energy of happiness.

If you want to get happy fast, drop grudges and negative content from your thoughts. Replace them with optimism, benevolence, and bright shiny movies, ideas, and images that raise your spirits. When you feel light, put a bounce in your step, and lift your face to meet others with a smile. You’ll know your plan to be joyful is working. You expanded your energy and kept positivity flowing.

WHY MISTAKES ARE KEYS TO GROWTH

Milton Hershey filed bankruptcy twice. James Lee Burke had a manuscript rejected 111 times; the book was nominated for a Pulitzer. Making a mistake is not always a bad thing.

WRITER: BRIDGET WEBBER

Making a mistake often feels like the worst thing that could happen, but there are ways to get beyond it.

Mistakes help you learn and grow; without them, you remain static. Not moving forward means you don’t expand your consciousness or gain a greater understanding of yourself and life. If you don’t make blunders and have no faults, you won’t understand others who aren’t perfect. Going through challenges, and slipping up on the way, clarifies what it’s like to be vulnerable. Later, you see the same quality in others, and your compassion comes out.

Acceptance

Acceptance is one of the greatest lessons errors teach. If you struggle for perfection, scolding yourself when you’ve made gaffes, it hurts. Accept that it’s OK to make mistakes and be kind to yourself, offering forgiveness, and learning how to self-soothe. You’ll become your best friend and be selfsufficient. You have other friends, but you don’t need anyone else to make you happy because you know how to manage your choices. Accept that getting things wrong may make you wiser and stronger and perhaps undergo personal growth.

When you make an error, don’t judge yourself. Look at the situation closely and glean what insight you can. Don’t

criticize your choices. If you are upset, take a moment to self-soothe, and then look for what you can learn from this. Find a place where you won’t be disturbed, sit comfortably, and take slow, even breaths. Slow breathing helps you gain heart coherence and helps you balance your emotional state.

While relaxed, let go of misgivings and the critical voice in your head. When your mind is clear, allow gratitude to fill your heart, imagining it as a feeling of warmth entering your heart and expanding throughout your body. Remind yourself of the valuable knowledge gained from your ordeal as you continue to breathe evenly and deeply. Let acceptance wash over you, knowing it’s not only all right to make mistakes, but healthy.

While relaxing, allow your mistakes to help you navigate your relationships and comprehend why others behave the way they do. Marvel at how amazing life is to demonstrate lessons through your errors. Remember you are a student during the entirety of your time on the planet. Be willing to study in any way life sees fit to teach you.

Your mistakes are important as they occur to aid growth. Acknowledge their significance. Delve beneath them, realizing they shape you and make you more than you would be without them.

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“If you’re comfortable with what you have and who you are, you’ll automatically be more comfortable talking about your finances.”

—Jean Chatzky

CAN NOSPEND DAYS HELP YOU SAVE?

Just like no-meat Mondays, designating a no-spend day might lead to better things in your life.

WRITER: ROZ ANDREWS

No-spend days are days you spend no money at all. You don’t buy anything from a store, you don’t shop online, you take your lunch to work, and you don’t pick up a takeout meal for dinner.

Are no-spend days really a good way of saving money? Is it inevitable that you’ll save money if you have one, two or even three no-spend days every week or month?

Here’s a way to introduce no-spend days into your life and to make them part of your ongoing savings strategy.

Set a Weekly Budget for Nonessential Items

For no-spend days to work well, you need a maximum budget for all the nonessential items you buy every week.

This should cover all day-today expenses such as a coffee on your way to work, lunch in a café, newspapers and magazines, snacks on the way home from work, takeout meals, and so on.

Be realistic here. If you enjoy sipping a cappuccino on your way to work every day, include the

cost of five cappuccinos in your weekly budget.

Necessary expenses, such as your rent or mortgage, weekly grocery shopping, and gas for your car, should be included in a separate budget of essential expenses.

Choose Your First No-Spend Day

Once you’ve decided on the maximum amount of money you can afford to spend on unnecessary items, introduce one no-spend day per week.

To make it easier to keep to your resolution, choose a day when you already spend less money than on other days.

For example, if you usually stay at home on Sundays, that day could be your first no-spend day.

Reduce Your Budget and Introduce a Second No-Spend Day

For the first few weeks, make sure you don’t spend any money at all on your no-spend day and keep to your budget for nonessential items in the rest of the week.

Once you find this easy to achieve, reduce your weekly budget for unnecessary items by at least 5 percent and introduce a second nospend day.

Prepare in advance for that nospend day by buying anything you’ll need before the day.

You may find a second no-spend day more challenging, so give yourself time to get used to your new weekly spending routine.

When Should You Introduce a Third No-Spend Day?

Once you feel comfortable with a lower budget and two no-spend days a week, you can reduce your budget again and introduce a third no-spend day.

Some people even like to have four or five no-spend days on workdays so they spend only money on weekends.

Be Realistic But Don’t Give Up!

Recognize there will be weeks when circumstances dictate you spend money on a no-spend day or that you exceed your weekly spending budget.

For example, you might decide to stop for a snack, drink, and a break after being stuck in a traffic jam for two hours on your way home on a no-spend day. When such things happen, don’t give up on your no-spend days and weekly budgeting. Chalk the extra expenses

up to experience. Sometimes life gets in the way, despite good intentions. Start each new week with a renewed effort to keep to your budget and no-spend days.

Use No-Spend Days as Part of Your Overall Savings Strategy

No-spend days and weekly budgeting for unnecessary expenses should not be the sole foundation of your savings efforts. The best way to save money is to transfer a percentage of your income into your savings account on payday each month. Think of it as investing in yourself. Then, try to save more money through nospend days. At the same time, reduce weekly expenditure on nonessential items gradually.

Set targets for the extra money you’ll save. At the end of each week, transfer any money you haven’t spent into your savings account.

No-spend days won’t save you money by themselves. If you have one no-spend day per week and then overcompensate by spending more than usual on the other six days of the week, you won’t save any money. However, if no-spend days are integrated into your overall savings strategy, they will help your savings grow more quickly.

FISCAL FITNESS IS IMPORTANT

Checks and balances are always a significant part of life, especially when it comes to personal finances.

WRITER: TOM WILKINS

Personal finance can be a difficult thing to master. It involves keeping track of income and expenses, budgeting wisely, and making careful decisions. It can easily fall apart when the unexpected happens. A lot of personal finance advice depends upon your current situation and what your long-term goals are. However, whatever your position, there are three golden rules of personal finance that everyone should follow.

1. Clearing debt is usually more beneficial than saving

Although there are some exceptions to this rule, clearing your debt serves you better than saving money. Certain types of debt penalize you for overpaying on repayments. However, for most forms of debt, such as short-term loans and bank charges, you pay much more in interest than you could possibly generate in interest on any savings. It just makes sense to pay off any outstanding debts before you think about saving.

2. Live below your means

If you’re spending more than you earn, you’ll always be in trouble. If you’re living at the limit of your ability to spend, any unexpected financial problem may push you over the edge and beyond what you can afford. Keeping a healthy buffer between how much you make and how much you spend is an essential step toward healthy personal finances.

3. Keep an emergency fund

You never know when something may happen that requires a sudden expenditure. That’s why it’s crucial that some of your budget each month is put aside for an emergency fund. If you can afford it, the ideal emergency fund should be enough to cover your living expenses for several months. If this goal is unrealistic for you, putting something aside is better than being broke and caught empty handed.

These three golden rules are the first steps on the path to healthy personal finances. Whatever your budget, keeping these rules in mind will help you to live relatively free of money worries.

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THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH A LITTLE QUIET TIME

WRITER: JAMES COMBS

t’s the question I’ve come to loathe. “You’re a quiet one, aren’t you?”

I’ve been asked this repeatedly throughout my life. Of course, they don’t always phrase the question like this. Sometimes, the word quiet is replaced by other words. Introvert. Antisocial. Reserved. Shy. Distant. Conceited. But they all agree on one thing: My social skills need some fine-tuning.

I’ve always answered the dreaded question in true introvert fashion. I nod my head in agreement without saying a word.

Deep down, I know they’re right. Social events, company meetings, and dinner outings leave me feeling mentally exhausted. I love the peacefulness of being alone and not having to endure someone’s drama or nonstop blathering. I like to carefully think things through before offering an idea or opinion.

For many years, I’ve pondered what it would be like to come out of my shell and live the exciting life of an extrovert. You know, those people adored and cherished for being alive, energized, and enthusiastic. The bold, brash self-promoters like Muhammad Ali and Donald Trump to whom people naturally gravitate.

Unfortunately, I’ve always felt people viewed me as quite the opposite— unappealing and a bit bland. And it all stems back to that dreaded question: “You’re a quiet one, aren’t you?”

However, I’ve recently come to the realization that being an introvert is neither a character flaw nor a curse. Several weeks ago, I asked a fellow introvert how she responds to being labeled quiet. She provided a thoughtprovoking answer.

“The people who make an effort to get to know me by digging beneath my surface are pleasantly surprised to find a person who is indeed quite interesting. Sure, there are some people who label me quiet and make no effort to discover what kind of person I really am. However, the ones who make an effort are the only people worth my time.”

This splendid response gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and ask an extroverted coworker how she perceives me. We share an office, have many conversations, and even enjoyed lunch on a few occasions. She knows me better than most. I feared the worst but received a surprising answer:

“I like your quirky sense of humor, as well as your sweet nature. You’re dependable, loyal, and sincere. I wouldn’t want you to change for anything.”

There it is, fellow introverts. Sometimes we assume others think ill of us when, in fact, they see us in a more positive light than we see ourselves. We have hidden personalities that bubble under the surface. We don’t deliver our personalities on a platter—it’s up to others to put in the effort to get to know us.

Going forward, introverts, it’s time to accept that we’ll never be social butterflies because we cannot change our fundamental wiring. Let’s instead embrace our strengths. We’re creative thinkers, loyal friends, and excellent listeners. We may have only a few close friends, but each of those friendships has depth and meaning. And we shouldn’t be envious of extroverts. After all, when people gravitate to them in social situations, we get more breathing room to hide in the corner and assess the situation before deciding who to hesitantly approach.

And to you extroverts, yes, we’re different than you. The mere mention of a dinner gathering likely will make our skin crawl. After several hours of mingling, we require alone time to recharge our socially drained batteries. Try to be more understanding. Make an effort to know us on a more personal level. You just might like what you find.

If nothing else, please avoid asking the bothersome question, “You’re a quiet one, aren’t you?”

Honestly, introverts avoid small talk like the plague.

Anudh Jain, MD Radiation Oncologist